Free NCAA Pick: Southern Miss vs. Kentucky Odds
Looking for Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats free NCAA Week 1 picks & NCAA odds? NCAA betting sees the Golden Eagles taking on the Wildcats on Saturday, August 31st at the Kroger Field. Cappers Picks provides complimentary NCAA handicapping picks all season long including all NCAA Week 1 games so stay tuned for more FREE NCAA predictions like this Southern Miss Kentucky matchup.
2024 NCAAF Handicapping Analysis: Week 1
(0-0) Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats (0-0)
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 7:45 ET
Venue: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
Week 1 ATS Betting Lines: (BET NOW!) Southern Miss +28 | Kentucky -28
Week 1 CFB Moneyline Odds: Southern Miss +1668 | Kentucky -5977
College Football Betting Total: O/U 50.5
- Live Betting Odds for the upcoming Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats game!
- Want more NCAA football predictions like this Golden Eagles Wildcats play? Check out our free NCAA Football AI Picks for today!
- View our Updated Sportsbook Bonuses for today!
YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR TOP NCAAF CAPPERS PICKS! (All Under 1 Roof)
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Southern Miss is ranked 104th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 48.7% chance of being bowl-eligible this season. Last year, they finished with a 3-9 record, including going 1-5 on the road and 2-4 at home. The Golden Eagles were the underdog in eight of their 12 games and managed a 2-6 record in those matchups.
Looking at the odds in the futures market, the Golden Eagles are considered a long shot to win the Sun Belt, with a +4260 line placing them 12th out of the 7 teams in the conference. However, we are giving them a 2.9% chance of winning the Sun Belt this season.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles Stats
Southern Miss finished 80th in the country in scoring last season, averaging 23.2 points per game. Their passing game was a struggle, with an average of just 190.7 yards per game, ranking 102nd nationally. The team’s completion percentage was 51.8% (96th), and they threw a total of 8 interceptions. On the ground, the Golden Eagles ranked 69th in rushing yards per game, averaging 163.9 yards.
Expert NCAA Football Betting Picks
Need a few more angles for this week’s college football slate? Browse today’s featured premium plays from CappersPicks handicappers, with sides, totals, moneylines, and other NCAA football bets.
Heading into this season, Southern Miss has Ethan Crawford as their top returning quarterback, with 246 passing yards and three touchdowns last year. They also added Tate Rodemaker from Florida State, who threw for 510 yards last season. Rodrigues Clark, who ran for 429 yards and two touchdowns last year, is back in the backfield for the Golden Eagles.
Opposing quarterbacks had a field day against Southern Miss last season, posting a collective passer rating of 95.9. The Golden Eagles’ defense allowed 35.8 points per game, ranking 91st in the nation. They also struggled to stop the run, giving up 180.5 rushing yards per game, and their pass defense was even worse, ranking last in the nation in passing yards allowed (242 per game).
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky enters the season with a 61.1% chance of being bowl-eligible, according to their 34th place ranking in our pre-season power rankings. Last season, the Wildcats finished with a 7-6 overall record, going 3-2 on the road and 4-4 at home. They were the underdog in six of their 13 games and went 4-2 in those matchups, while finishing 3-4 as the favorite.
Heading into this season, the Wildcats have a 0.2% chance of winning the Southeastern Conference. In the futures market, they are at +10300 to win the conference, with a 0.2% chance of making it to the Conference title game (+4250).
Kentucky Wildcats Stats
Ja’Mori Maclin, who had 1004 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season at North Texas, joins Kentucky as a key addition to their receiving corps. Last season, the Wildcats’ passing game averaged 211.6 yards per game, ranking 74th in the country. Overall, Kentucky averaged 29.1 points per game, placing them 43rd nationally. However, their rushing attack ranked 90th, with an average of 128.2 yards per game.
At quarterback, Kentucky has brought in Gavin Wimsatt, who threw for 1735 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Rutgers. Wimsatt completed 47.8% of his passes and threw eight interceptions. The Wildcats also have Demie Sumo-Karngbaye returning in the backfield. He rushed for 139 yards last season. Chip Trayanum, who ran for 373 yards at Ohio State, has also joined the team.
Kentucky’s defense was better against the run last season, ranking 27th in rushing yards allowed, giving up 113.9 yards per game. However, they struggled in the passing game, allowing 240.5 passing yards per game, which contributed to them finishing 54th in the nation in points allowed at 25.8 per game. Opposing quarterbacks completed 68.9% of their passes against the Wildcats last season.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Football Betting Trends
- The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are 2-3 in their last five games as an underdog.
- Conversely, the Kentucky Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a favorite.
- Also, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles are 5-5 ATS in their last ten road games.
- On the other side, the Kentucky Wildcats have gone 7-3 across their last ten home games.
- Over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles’ last 3 road games, the over/under record is 3-0.
- The Kentucky Wildcats’ have an over/under record of 1-2 in their last 3 games at home.
4* Free 2024 Week 1 NCAA Betting Prediction: Kentucky -28
Our projected final score for this week one matchup between Southern Miss and Kentucky is 27-20 in favor of Kentucky. However, with Southern Miss being +28 point underdogs, we like their chances to cover the spread.
For an over/under pick, we recommend taking the under, as our projections have the combined score at 47 points, just under the O/U line of 50.5 points.
Best Sportsbooks For Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Football Gambling Today!
In Canada? Try Bodog!
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Betting Tweet Of The Day
What it means.
Chapter 1: Our Home.🎤 @TimCouchQB
🎥 @UKSportsVideo pic.twitter.com/CD4iJsi8M8— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) February 10, 2024
If you’re looking for more NCAA picks like this Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Kentucky Wildcats matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NCAA predictions on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NCAA Football picks!
Register here for a FREE College Football Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special NCAA Offers!







