Kentucky vs. Southern Miss odds: Early point spread released on Wildcats, Golden Eagles

For the third time in nine seasons, Kentucky and Southern Miss will open their seasons against one another. After splitting those two previous ones, UK is now a large favorite to kick off in 2024.

Per FanDuel, the Wildcats are a 27.5-point favorite (-118) over the Golden Eagles. The book has set the over-under at a total of 50.5 points.

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How to watch Southern Miss vs. Kentucky

Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Channel: SEC Network, ESPN+
Location: Kroger Field (Lexington, Kentucky)

Kentucky and Southern Miss will start their years in the bluegrass in front of the crowd at Kroger Field. It will be the third and final game of the opening weekend on the conference’s network after Chattanooga vs. Tennessee (12:45 p.m. ET) and Old Dominion vs. South Carolina (4:15 p.m. ET).

More on Southern Miss vs. Kentucky

Again, this is the third time in nearly a decade that these two will play each other first on their schedules.

In 2016, Kentucky hosted Southern Miss and lost 44-35. After leading by as much as 25 at a score of 35-10, they wouldn’t score again in the second half with the Golden Eagles, led by QB Nick Mullens, closing with 34 answered points. Then, in 2017, the Wildcats went to Hattiesburg and won 24-17.

Since that loss in ’16, Kentucky hasn’t lost to a team from the Group of Five with them winning 20 straight now.

UK could be beginning a great season this weekend in their dozenth under Mark Stoops.

Much of that has to do with them bringing back several members of their program from the sidelines and on both units on the roster. Kentucky returns essentially all of their starters from last year’s defense with all of their statistical leaders back among more. They also bring back several offensive pieces amidst some transfers too with the most notable being QB Brock Vandagriff.

Southern Miss is starting their fourth season under Will Hall. In that span since 2021, the Golden Eagles are 13-24 as they’re coming off their second of two records at 3-9. They don’t return many players but did also add a known name at quarterback in Tate Rodemaker.

The Golden Eagles have gone on the road and beaten Kentucky in recent history. However, Vegas is projecting a large Wildcat win that will extend their mid-major, non-conference streak to 21 victories by the end of the game on Saturday night.