The eyes of the college football world are locked on Oxford this week, with No. 8 LSU traveling to face No. 9 Ole Miss. This isn’t just another SEC showdown, though: it marks Lane Kiffin’s dramatic return to Ole Miss as the head coach of the LSU Tigers, and oddsmakers are calling it a toss-up, with LSU opening as just a 2.5 point favorite.
Kiffin’s Homecoming Is LSU’s First Real Test
Kiffin has made himself the center of attention for the better part of the last calendar year, and you know the Rebels and their fans would love to show up their old coach. This game feels like a true crucible for LSU, which has had a relatively easy start to the season. They’ve flattened “the corpse of Dabo Swinney’s Clemson program” and then took down a “slightly more formidable foe in Louisiana Tech.” This trip to Ole Miss is their first real test of the season, and the atmosphere in Oxford is going to be charged. Neutrals are definitely in for quite a watch!
Mizzou Gets a Breather While the SEC Heats Up
Last week, Mizzou was the center of attention on their “Border War trip to Lawrence.” The extra spotlight seemed to weigh on the Tigers’ shoulders in the first half, but they quickly recovered to trounce Kansas and bang the drum all over midfield. This week, No. 23 Mizzou has a bit of a breather against Troy at home. FanDuel’s oddsmakers aren’t even acknowledging this game with odds because the Tigers are likely to be so favored. Coach Eli Drinkwitz won’t let his players feel it’s a breather, but it certainly feels like a tune-up game.
Meanwhile, the rest of the SEC slate for Week 3 has some serious matchups. No. 2 Georgia is a massive (-24.5) favorite at Arkansas with an O/U of 53.5. Kentucky faces No. 10 Texas A&M, with the Aggies favored (-14.5) and an O/U of 48.5. No. 12 Alabama is a big favorite (-18.5) against Florida State, with the O/U set at 50.5. Mississippi State and South Carolina square off, with the Gamecocks favored (-3.5) and an O/U of 58.5. Florida is a slight favorite (-2.5) at Auburn, O/U 53.5. No. 11 Oklahoma is a heavy favorite (-19.5) against New Mexico, O/U 49.5. Then you’ve got No. 18 Tennessee (-35.5) hosting Kennesaw State (O/U 60.5) and No. 4 Texas (-30.5) facing UTSA (O/U 56.5).
This week’s main event is undoubtedly in Oxford. With Kiffin’s history and two top-10 teams squaring off in what oddsmakers call a toss-up, this game is set to be wild. Will LSU prove they’re a true contender, or will Ole Miss deliver a shocking homecoming upset? Get ready, because Saturday is going to be must-see TV.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply