Paul Finebaum predicts Ole Miss to defeat LSU

Paul Finebaum is ready for a fascinating Week 5 SEC showdown taking place in Oxford, Mississippi. LSU will take its show on the road to take on Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the huge game, the SEC Network analyst has locked in his prediction. During a hit on Get Up on Friday, Finebaum picked Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

“I like the home team — Ole Miss,” Finebaum stated. “This is such a narrow game, but to me, that home field matters. The Ole Miss situation is interesting. Austin Simmons was the quarterback, and everyone thought he was a good replacement for Jaxson Dart.

“But then here comes Trinidad Chambliss after an injury. And Lane Kiffin is very difficult to beat at home.”

Last season, LSU stood tall in overtime over Ole Miss, but Finebaum believes that’ll change in 2025. Tigers star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier only completed 22 of his 51 pass attempts, but he amassed 337 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He threw two interceptions, as well.

The aforementioned Dart lined up under center for the Rebels. He passed for 284 yards and a touchdown on 24 of 42 pass attempts, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. He also rushed for 27 yards on 15 carries.

This time around, there’s even more at stake for LSU. They have real hopes of making it to the College Football Playoff, and Finebaum doesn’t believe one loss to Ole Miss would change that goal.

“A great deal is at stake for LSU and Brian Kelly,” Finebaum added. “I talked to him this week, and he scoffed when I mentioned Clemson. We all thought that win was a big deal, but now Clemson has three losses. They beat Florida, but Florida has three losses too. That’s the issue here.

“I still think LSU is a very good team. Nussmeier has been banged up a little bit—he hasn’t looked like the No. 1 pick. But Brian Kelly needs to get to the playoff this season, and a loss here would complicate things. It wouldn’t end it, because it would only be their first loss. But it would make the road a lot harder.”

Time will tell who’s victorious in the end inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It should be a doozy of a game, though, and Finebaum is riding with the Rebels to get a huge win on Saturday.