Week 2 Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football is 2-1 against the Kentucky Wildcats in the Lane Kiffin era and will hit the field in Lexington on Saturday for the second time under the head coach, winning the first matchup in 2020 42-41 in overtime. 

The Rebels will be looking for revenge while the Wildcats will be looking to play spoiler in another early season SEC battle between the teams. The last four matchups between the two programs have come down to the final play of the game, so there shouldn’t be any promises in this one.

With that being said, here is The Rebel Walk giving their best shots at predicting what should be another entertaining game between Ole Miss and Kentucky:

Adam Brown

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24, Kentucky 13

X-Factor Player: Kewan Lacy

A key for the Rebels in this game is going to be Kewan Lacy. Look for Lacy to have 130 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.

Bold Prediction: Ole Miss defense forces three turnovers

The defense needs to continue to build on the performance against Georgia State. Look for the defense to force three turnovers against the Wildcats.

Billy Kuhl

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 28 , Kentucky 17

X-Factor Player:  TJ Dottery

TJ Dottery is one of the key returning members from last years upset loss to the Wildcats and stated in his first post game press conference about having a “sour taste” in his mouth from last year and I am expecting him to come out looking to dominate. 

Bold Prediction: Austin Simmons will break out and make a statement. 

I believe the key to the Rebels coming away with a victory falls in the hands of their run defense and Austin Simmons. Last week after Simmons second interception he settled in well and look comfortable. I expect more of the same and I think he will record 3 passing touchdowns to give the Rebels an edge in this years contest. 

Daylan Flowers

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Kentucky 17

X-Factor Player: Zxavian Harris

Only player with a sack and interception last week. One of the veteran leaders on this team, he played against Kentucky last weekend. His momentum will be key against the Kentucky offense. The Kentucky offense will look to keep the ole miss tempo offense off the field as much as possible with the run game, I think Harris will be effective in stopping that. Last year Kentucky had 39 minutes of possession compared to the Rebels 20. He will be effective in getting the Rebs off the field on third down as well.

Bold Prediction: Kewan Lacy 150 rushing yards 

Lacy was everything the staff and myself thought he was gonna be after fall camp, and excelled during the week one game. The run game has to be effective again for ole Miss to win, but the rotation of Damien Taylor and Logan Diggs will also help Lacy be free 

David Walker

Score: Ole Miss 21, Kentucky 13

X-Factor Player: LB Jaden Yates
I look for Jaden to be around the football consistently and to make several big plays, perhaps causing or getting a turnover or two.

Bold Prediction: A one-score game going into the fourth quarter

Hopefully the Rebels break the series mold, but this will be a slugfest that Ole Miss eventually wins because of its collective grit and toughness, but they’ll have to earn it and be mistake-free. The running game will shine while Simmons picks his spots for 20+ yards per completion, but not expecting “pretty.” Kentucky QB Calzada will be under immense pressure and will be held to sub-4 yards per pass attempt.

Donna Sprabery

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 28, Kentucky 14

The complete team looks poised to deliver a dominant conference statement.

X-Factor Player: The Ole Miss defense

Ole Miss’ defense continues to sharpen, anchored by linebackers and newcomers stepping up. TJ Dottery recorded eight tackles against Georgia State, while Jaden Yates matched that effort. Across the line, Zxavian Harris logged five tackles, one for loss, plus a sack and an interception; Da’Shawn Womack added six tackles and a Tackle For Loss. Their contributions will be vital in slowing down Kentucky’s run-first approach.

Bold Prediction: The Rebel rushing attack finds a way again

Expect the Rebels’ ground game to elevate its role. Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy was dominant against Georgia State, rushing for 108 yards and three touchdowns on just 16 carries. Logan Diggs also delivered a strong performance with 91 yards and a score. With their success, the Rebels can reliably distribute the load and keep Kentucky on its heels.

Evie Van Pelt

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Kentucky 7

X-Factor Player: Kewan Lacy

I know, I know….I picked him last week as my X-factor player—and he was. But I think we all remember last year’s game, and if Ole Miss would have had a running attack vs. the Wildcats, they could have at least run out the clock when they had the lead deep in the fourth quarter. (Lot of would have/could have in that game, and Lane Kiffin absolutely remembers that.) Last season, Kentucky’s time of possession was almost double that of the Rebels. A ground game would have changed that. Enter Mr. Lacy. I think he gets his second 100-yard game in a row Saturday in Lexington.

Bold Prediction: Defense shows out in Lexington — Ole Miss defense holds Zach Calzada to under 100 yards passing, snags one INT, and keeps the Wildcats under 150 rushing.

Zach Calzada struggled badly last weekend, throwing for only 85 yards against Toledo. But the ground game showed up for the Cats, thanks to Dante Dowdell (129 yards), as they tallied 220 total rushing yards. That will not be the case this Saturday as yards on the ground will be hard to come by.

Jacob Quaglino

Score prediction: Ole Miss 24, Kentucky 7

X-Factor Player: the entire offensive line

This is may well be what decides the outcome of the Rebels’ conference opener. Kentucky will be entering this game with an experience and battle-tested defensive line taking on an Ole Miss offensive line that struggled at times last week against a far inferior opponent in Georgia State, that also forced QB Austin Simmons into some poor decisions and raised concerns amongst a wide range of Rebel fans.

If the Rebel O Line can hold its own, there’s no reason why Simmons and co. can’t have a field day, especially with the talented group of receivers that Kiffin has to work with paired with a stellar running back in Kewan Lacy. However, it will greatly depend on if the O Line can offer enough protection for Simmons and Lacy, and if Center Brycen Sanders’ words rang true in his weekly press conference when he said he was committed to having not just him, but the entire O Line improve and be ready to take on the Wildcats.

Bold Prediction: Ole Miss holds Kentucky to fewer than 10 points

This is a Kentucky team that only managed 24 points a week ago against Toledo—and only 10 through the first three quarters (and their final score of the game came on a fluke 79 yard run). On top of that, the Wildcats only put up 85 passing yards, 141 rushing yards not counting the aforementioned 79 yard rushing score, and will now have to face Pete Golding’s defense next week. In short, the Wildcats’ offense is not one with a particularly big reputation, and the stars appear to be aligned for the Rebels’ defense to make a statement game.

In all, despite the concerns about the Rebels’ offensive line, there’s more than enough reason to be confident in a Rebel victory on Saturday. There is reason to be hesitant that Simmons and co. will put up huge offensive numbers, but the talent Ole Miss has on both sides of the ball coupled with UK’s lackluster offense mean there’s no excuse for the Rebels not to leave Lexington with their first SEC win of the season.

Jordan Merritt

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Kentucky 20

X-Factor Player: Cayden Lee

After a quiet week 1, Cayden Lee will explode against the Wildcats. Other wide receivers picked up the work against Georgia State, but this week it’s Lee’s time to shine.

Bold Prediction: Roles reverse from last season, this time Ole Miss scores a late touchdown to take the W. With two minutes on the clock, Simmons drives the offense down to the 1-yard line, where Logan Diggs punches it home for the win.

Kam Wicker

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 27 , Kentucky 16

X-Factor Player: The Ole Miss defensive line

The Landshark defense seemed to be where everyone expected them to be in week 1 versus the Panthers. However, the Rebels allowed a handful of rushing (most of that being late in the game) against a run heavy team. Expect the front four for Ole Miss to make a statement against another run heavy team in Kentucky with two solid running backs that power their offense.

Bold Prediction: Ole Miss holds Kentucky under 275 total yards

In week 1 against Toledo, the Wildcats tallied 305 total yards with most of those coming from the rushing attack. With one of the less threatening passing attacks in the SEC, I expect the Ole Miss defense to give the Lane Kiffin offense plenty of chances to put this game away.

Sierra Gann

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Kentucky 21

X-Factor Player: Austin Simmons and Kewan Lacy

Austin Simmons throws for 250 yards and two touchdowns, with fewer mistakes this game. Kewan Lacy rushes for 90 yards and adds a touchdown to keep them balanced on offense.

Bold Prediction: Kentucky keeps it close early on

Kentucky’s defense forces a turnover and keeps it close early, but their offense struggles to keep up with Ole Miss in the second half.

Zach Moreth

Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24, Kentucky 17

X-Factor Player: Kewan Lacy

Ole Miss will get their revenge in Lexington, winning 24-17 this weekend. Looking at playmakers and X factors, defensive line pressure will be crucial but I see Kewan Lacy making a major impact on this game. Lacy will rush for over 95 yards and score at least one touchdown.

Bold Prediction: Ole Miss defense dominates in pass coverage

Zach Calzada will throw for less than 125 yards against the Rebels on Saturday.

Up next:

The week 2 matchup between Ole Miss and Kentucky kicks off Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Stay tuned in with The Rebel Walk for all your game coverage.