Ole Miss, Louisville bring ranked Week 1 clash to Nashville
SportsLine’s model projects a lower-scoring contest as No. 9 Ole Miss faces No. 24 Louisville at Nissan Stadium.
No. 9 Ole Miss will meet No. 24 Louisville at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday at 7.30 p.m. ET in Week 1’s only ranked-on-ranked college football matchup, according to CBS Sports.
Ole Miss is listed as a 6.5-point favourite, with the total set at 54.5 points. SportsLine’s model predicts the game will finish below that mark, projecting a combined score of 49 points.
The model reportedly simulated the matchup 10,000 times and favoured the under in 60 per cent of simulations. It projected neither team would score more than 30 points, while noting that its 2026 version accounts for the transfer portal.
The game will test Ole Miss as the programme begins a new era under Pete Golding following Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss returns, while running back Kewan Lacy is part of an Ole Miss backfield described as among the nation’s strongest.
Louisville has won at least nine games in each of Jeff Brohm’s three seasons. The Cardinals are expected to rely on a strong defence, while Ole Miss was among the better defensive teams nationally last season and added reinforcements through the transfer portal.
SportsLine’s supplied forecast covers the total, but its projected winner and spread and money-line selections were not disclosed.
