The Lane Kiffin Bowl is here, and the antics started days before kickoff. Tigers QB Sam Leavitt was ruled doubtful Wednesday evening, though there have been no signs of the Arizona State transfer being hurt in either of LSU’s wins. We have no idea what happens behind closed doors, but with Kiffin at the helm, there is reason to believe this is an unorthodox tactic or form of gamesmanship entering the rivalry. The market seems to agree. Since the announcement, the line dropped from -3 to -1 before bouncing back to LSU -2.5 at most books. While Leavitt is a major factor, LSU’s defense could win this game for the Tigers regardless of who is under center.
LSU allows only 18.5 rushing yards per game and has 10 sacks through its 2-0 start. Princewill Umanmielen alone has five of those sacks, along with six of the team’s 17 TFL. Umanmielen and the LSU front seven is a nightmare matchup for the Ole Miss duo of Kewan Lacy and Trinidad Chambliss. Ole Miss hasn’t fared as well, ranking 79th in defensive success rate against the run. This doesn’t bode well against an LSU rushing attack that posted 309 yards on the ground against a talented Clemson defense. I expect Leavitt to play in this matchup, and I’ll take Kiffin’s squad to cover against Kiffin’s former squad due to the advantages on defense and in the run game.
LSU vs Ole Miss prediction: LSU Tigers -2.5 (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable to -3 (-110).
