Southern Miss. Golden Eagles vs
Kentucky WildcatsPredictions & Preview

Southern Miss. vs Kentucky: Can Wildcats cover the 28-point spread in highly anticipated showdown?

College football season is back in full swing and fans are eagerly anticipating an exciting week 1 with a lineup of thrilling games to look forward to. One such match-up to watch out for is the southern non-conference showdown between Southern Mississippi and Kentucky. Oddsmakers have pegged the Wildcats as the heavy 28-point favorites for this game. The initial betting line opened at Kentucky -26 and has since shifted to Kentucky -28. Stay tuned to see how this game unfolds and who comes out on top.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Golden Eagles +1656 | Wildcats -6000
• Spread: Golden Eagles +28 (-110) | Wildcats -28 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 50 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kentucky will win straight-up is 98%.

Southern Miss. vs Kentucky Stats

Southern Miss. Golden Eagles

The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles had a challenging season in 2023, finishing with a disappointing record of 3-9 and struggling in Sun Belt conference play with a 2-6 record. Head coach Will Hall will be looking for a breakout year to improve on his overall record of 13-24 in his first three years at Southern Miss, as his job could be on the line. Despite last year's setbacks, the team has reason for optimism with a strong recruiting class and impactful transfers from Power 5 schools. Quarterback Tate Rodemaker and cornerback Will James are among the notable additions to the team for the upcoming season. With a power ranking of 115 and rankings of 98 in offense and 126 in defense, the Golden Eagles will be looking to improve on their performance this year.

Kentucky Wildcats Analysis

The Kentucky Wildcats had a strong start to last season but stumbled to the finish line, resulting in a disappointing 7-6 record. Head coach Mark Stoops is focused on avoiding a repeat this season. The team faces challenges as they have a new quarterback in Brock Vandagriff and must fill the void left by star running back Ray Davis. The defense struggled last season but hopes to improve with a veteran unit. Kentucky's power ranking is 79 with rankings of #57 for offense and #61 for defense. In their last 3 matchups, Southern Miss. went 1-1 against Kentucky.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles poised to cover spread against Kentucky in Saturday matchup

I am recommending a bet on the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at +28 against Kentucky this Saturday afternoon. Despite a challenging 2023 season, the Golden Eagles have made significant improvements for this year, particularly with their key transfers such as QB Tate Rodemaker and CB Will James. Last season, Southern Miss only suffered two losses by 28 points or more, one of which was against a strong Florida State team ranked #4 at the time. They also managed to keep the game within 21 points against Mississippi State in November, a comparable performance to what we may see against Kentucky. With Kentucky's limited margin of victory last season and their struggles against lesser opponents, it is possible that they may face challenges in covering a 28-point spread. While the outcome of the game is likely not in question, Southern Miss has a good chance of keeping the score within four touchdowns.

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