Mississippi @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2010 ) Kentucky 35, Mississippi 42

THE STORY: The heat is on Mississippi coach Houston Nutt and his counterpart - Kentucky's Joker Phillips, but someone will win their first SEC game of the season when the teams meet in Lexington, Ky. The Rebels lost 41-23 at Auburn last week and have allowed 35.8 points per game in five conference losses. The Wildcats fell 28-16 at Mississippi State last week and have lost their four SEC games by an average of 32.3 points. The Rebels lead the all-time series 27-13-1 and have won seven of the last nine. Ole Miss won at home last season 42-35.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Mississippi -2.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (2-6, 0-5 SEC West): A positive came out of the Auburn loss - the re-emergence of the Rebels’ rushing attack. Ole Miss came in ranked 107th in the nation in rushing yards, but got 114 yards from Brandon Bolden and 78 from Jeff Scott. It wasn’t enough to offset a lackluster showing from quarterback Randall Mackey, though, who passed for 157 yards (64 coming on the final two drives). The Rebels rank 115th in the nation and 11th in the SEC in total offense (283.6 yards), and 104th in the country and last in the conference in total defense (438.6 yards).

ABOUT KENTUCKY (3-5, 0-4 SEC East): The struggling Wildcats lost junior quarterback Morgan Newton to a sprained right ankle in the first quarter last week. But freshman Maxwell Smith gave Kentucky a jolt, completing 26-of-33 passes for 174 yards. Phillips said early this week it might be Friday or Saturday before he names a starter. Matt Roark caught 13 passes for 116 yards for an offense ranked 118th in total offense (265.8 yards). One bright spot all season has been senior linebacker Danny Trevathan, who leads the SEC and is fifth in the nation with 11.8 tackles per game.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Trevathan tied a career high against Mississippi State with 17 tackles.

2. Mackey has thrown an interception in four of his past five games.

3. Ole Miss does not have a player on its roster from the state of Kentucky; Kentucky does not have a player on its roster from Mississippi.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Mississippi 21 - No matter who starts at quarterback for Kentucky, the Wildcats will score just enough to hold off the Rebels at home.