Week 5 of college football means conference play is in full swing, and ESPN is featuring some of the best of the weekend. Their coverage is centered around the SEC, kicking off with Florida-Kentucky, LSU-Ole Miss, and Alabama-Mississippi State.
Florida is coming off a 22-7 victory against the Charlotte 49ers, while Kentucky is fresh off a 45-28 drubbing of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Both teams look to start 2-0 in SEC conference play and stay at the top of the SEC East.
LSU took down Arkansas at home in thrilling fashion last week 34-31, while Ole Miss lost 24-10 to Alabama on the road. LSU is looking to stay undefeated in the SEC, and Ole Miss is looking for their first SEC win.
Alabama took down the Rebels at home last week and look to start 2-0 in SEC play for the eighth consecutive season. Mississippi State is coming off a two-game slide in the SEC, dropping games to LSU and South Carolina.
What Times Are the Games on ESPN Today? | Florida @ Kentucky
- Start Time: Noon ET
- Channel: ESPN
- Weather: Accuweather projects the game to be around 76 degrees with mostly clear skies.
- Odds: Kentucky -1
- Over/Under Total: 44.5
Series Record
Florida leads the all-time series 53-20, but Kentucky has won the last two meetings.
What’s at Stake
Florida dismantled rival Tennessee just two weeks ago and turn their attention to the Kentucky Wildcats, who have won three of the past five games against Florida. The Gators are looking to start 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since 2020.
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz is leading the SEC in completion percentage and fourth nationally. Behind his arm, the running attack of Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr., and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has helped rank their offense 55th in the country.
Kentucky’s offense, led by quarterback Devin Leary, has the tough task of facing what has so far been the SEC’s best defense. Florida leads the SEC ranks fifth in the FBS in total defense and allows just 13.5 points a game. The Wildcats have scored over 28 points in every game this season and currently sit 25th in scoring offense.
Expect this to be a defensive heavyweight battle typical of the SEC. These units sit at the top of the SEC in virtually every defensive category and are still searching for consistency on offense.
LSU @ Ole Miss
- Start Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
- Weather: Accuweather projects the game to be around 83 degrees with mostly clear skies.
- Odds: LSU -2.5
- Over/Under Total: 67
Series Record
LSU leads the all-time series 65-41-4. The Tigers have won four of the last five between these two teams.
What’s at Stake
After a loss to Florida State in the season opener, LSU has ripped off multiple huge wins, including a 41-14 drubbing of SEC West rival Mississippi State two weeks ago.
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LSU’s Jayden Daniels has been one of the nation’s best quarterbacks this season, ranking fifth in passing touchdowns and sixth in passing yards. His play, and the play of talented receiver Malik Nabers, has LSU seventh in total offense and tenth in scoring.
Ole Miss, led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, is still searching for consistency. The Rebels haven’t generated much of a rushing attack so far this season, putting much of the offensive responsibility on Dart’s shoulders, who has guided them to 13th in passing offense.
Fresh off a loss to Alabama in which Ole Miss only managed to score three points outside of the first quarter, the Rebels will have to get off to a fast start against LSU.
Ole Miss’ offense will have its hands full with LSU, whose defense boasts NFL players at every level. Maason Smith projects as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL Draft, while Omar Speights is likely to return this week to anchor their linebacker room. LSU is allowing 228 yards per game through the air, good for 68th in the country.
This matchup should be a high-scoring affair between these two teams. All but one matchup since 2014 has combined for over 50 points, and I’d expect nothing less this weekend.
Alabama @ Mississippi State
- Start Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
- Weather: Accuweather projects the game to be around 79 degrees with clear skies.
- Odds: Alabama -14.5
- Over/Under Total: 46.5
Series Record
Alabama leads the all-time series between these teams 85-18-3. Mississippi State hasn’t won this matchup since a 17-12 victory in 2007.
What’s at Stake
Alabama has won this matchup 15 consecutive times and looks to make it a 16th this week.
The Crimson Tide’s offense seemingly found a groove last week with Jalen Milroe back at quarterback, and the team hopes their consistency improves from here. Mississippi State’s defense is 120th in passing yards allowed and 87th in scoring defense, so this could be a tune-up game for the Alabama offense.
The Bulldogs offense sputtered against LSU but found its groove against South Carolina, with quarterback Will Rogers passing for over 487 yards. Running back Jo’Quavious Marks, the SEC’s No. 2 rusher with 352 yards, is being evaluated after a leg injury at South Carolina and is questionable to play.
Will Rogers has been sacked 10 times this season, and Alabama’s defense led by Dallas Turner, is looking to add to that total. Turner is the only player in FBS with over 4.5 sacks and 20 pressures this season and could be in line for a big game against Mississippi State if they have to pass often.