LSU vs Ole Miss Prediction: It's About More Than Lane Kiffin
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Let’s get this whole Lane Kiffin returning to Ole Miss soap opera thing out of the way.
Of course fans are going to be mad whenever someone leaves for another school, but Ole Miss, how were you doing before the Lane Train rolled into Oxford?
Try four straight years without a winning season. And after his first season in 2020 – a weird ten-game rebuilding year – how did Kiffin do?
He went 50-14 with two ten-win seasons, two 11-win seasons, and he put together the talent that not only got the program to the College Football Playoff Semifinals last year, but still has the parts around to do it again.
Would Ole Miss have made the CFP at any point over the last five years without Kiffin? Probably not.
(The answer is “no,” but I’m being polite).
Would Ole Miss be No. 8 in the latest AP Poll right now if it wasn’t for Kiffin? Almost certainly, no. And that goes to the most important part of this.
Ole Miss is No. 8 in the nation, LSU is No. 7, and the winner of this will take a giant leap toward the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff.
LSU vs Ole Miss: Quick Hits
- LSU took its foot off the gas and still beat Clemson 51-10. Last week it beat Louisiana Tech 45-14. Next week it gets Texas A&M.
- Ole Miss survived a 41-38 thriller over Louisville and last week took it easy on Charlotte in a 41-9 win.
- So how did Lane Kiffin do against LSU when he was at Ole Miss? He went 3-3, the home team won each time.
How To Watch LSU vs Ole Miss
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ABC
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
– Week 3 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 3
Why LSU Will Win
LSU has been dominant on both sides of the ball on third downs, the passing attack averages 358 yards per game, the best in the SEC. The run defense has allowed just 36 yards in two games, partly thanks to the nation’s best pass rush, with 12 sacks so far.
The Tigers are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, No. 3 in total offense, and at all times they’ve been in total control, holding the ball for well over 35 minutes per game.
That, and who knows Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebel players still around from last year better than Kiffin? And …
Why Ole Miss Will Win
Who knows how Lane Kiffin works and coaches better than Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding?
Yeah, LSU has been amazing, but Ole Miss has been fantastic, too. Chambliss has played like his dynamic self, the running game has been good enough, and the defense … let’s just say the offense should be able to keep up the pace.
As great as LSU has been in the first two games, it’s had two massive issues. Penalties – ten last week – and turnovers. Sam Leavitt threw an early interception against Clemson, and last week got hit with a 100-yard pick-six as part of the four giveaways against Louisiana Tech.
LSU vs Ole Miss Prediction, Betting Lines
Strip away the emotion and hype, and these are two really good teams that will trade punches all game long. The difference will be in the overall speed and talent on the Tiger defense.
Unless the Ole Miss defense got night-and-day better since getting lit up by Louisville, Leavitt will have a huge day. It won’t all kick in until late in the third quarter, but eventually, the LSU lines will take over.
LSU 34, Ole Miss 26
Latest Consensus Line: LSU -3, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 5
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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