Florida vs. Mississippi Betting Preview – College Football, September 26, 2020

Lane Kiffin’s got the odds stacked up against him.

Talk about a rude awakening in your return to the SEC, half of the Rebels 2020 games are against opponents currently ranked in the top-13 in the country. That includes hosting the 8^th-ranked Gators at in Oxford on September 26^th.

Those interested in betting on the opener at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, check out this Florida vs. Mississippi prediction.

While many of the top sites are waiting to install odds for the September 26^th slate, SportsBetting.ag got out in front. Florida is on the hook for 10.5 points as of now, but the current juice suggests this line is on the verge of moving to 11.

The Gators were an impressive 8-5 against the spread last year under Dan Mullen, but don’t sleep on their adversary. Not only did Ole Miss cover 58.3% of the time, but Lane Kiffin’s FAU Owls were among the best in the nation ATS (10-4).

That data makes it easy to trust either side in a Florida vs. Mississippi prediction, so let’s break down this particular matchup.

Expect Lane Kiffin to lean on his running game early and often, but not just so he can keep Kyle Trask and the Florida offense off the field. Ole Miss averaged more than 251 rushing yards per game brings back all of their top athletes on offense.

Matt Corral and John Rhys Plumlee return and are both likely to see action under center, and each offers dual-threat capabilities. Speaking of Kiffin rolling with a two-headed attack at one of his most important positions, Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Conner give Lane a taste of his glory days at USC utilizing Reggie Bush and LenDale White.

Ealy’s a speedster who can make people miss in the open field, while Conner is a 215-pound bruiser who can wreak havoc between the tackles. Three of five starters on the offensive line are back, including stud left tackle Nick Broeker.

The ??? boys up front are ready for a ??? year. @SethAustinTV previews the offensive line. #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/YfVAsuFttp

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 10, 2020

Where things get messy for the Rebels is on their defensive line – a unit that must be completely revamped heading into the new season.

Switching gears to assess the visitors, it’s a good thing starting QB Kyle Trask does a good job spreading the pigskin around. His top receivers from 2019, Van Jefferson and Freddie Swain, are now with the Rams and Seahawks, respectively. Leading rusher (Lamical Perine) now plays for the Jets.

Standout tight end Kyle Pitts is back, and welcoming Xzavier Henderson to the fold should give the passing attack a boost. Xzavier is the younger brother of C.J. – Florida’s all-world CB who was drafted 9^th overall by the Jaguars in April.

Expect 6’5” target Trevon Grimes to assume an increased role, and look for Penn State transfer Justin Shorter to have an impact right away. Shorter is a 6’4” former five-star recruit who was recently granted a waiver deeming him eligible.

Zach Carter will need to step up on the edge to help replace Jonathan Greenard’s 9.5 sacks, but this is the University of Florida we’re talking about.

When has a Gators team not had a suffocating D?

The Rebels are unlikely to make any noise in the SEC West, while the Gators are a popular pick to hoist the crown in the East. Nevertheless, I’ll take Ole Miss and the points in a Florida vs. Mississippi betting pick.

We won’t see The Grove packed with inebriated fans chowing down before the game, but it’s worth noting that Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium will be packed around 16,000 fans (25% capacity) for the kickoff. The Gators are a sound program with genuine CFP aspirations, but they’re not explosive enough to start burying SEC competition on the road.

While I’m not often rooting for Lane Kiffin-coached teams, I sure as heck will be on the 26^th.