default-cbs-image

Non-conference play has come and gone and Kentucky will open up SEC play on Thursday with a road test in Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss.

Fresh off a road loss to rival Louisville, the No. 10 Wildcats will be looking for a way to avenge the loss in a bit of a 'prove it' game in their conference opener.

Here is how you can watch the game, both on television or streaming online, along with odds and picks for the matchup.

Viewing information

Time: 8 p.m. ET, Thursday

Location: The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi

TV: ESPN2

Online: WatchESPN.com

Mobile: Watch ESPN app

Scouting report

Kentucky will try and force its fast-paced style of play on Ole Miss. The Wildcats are 15th in adjusted tempo nationally, and score 118.7 points per 100 possessions. That's really, really fast.

The Wildcats (10-2) are best running the floor which allows De'Aaron Fox to surgically slice and dice in the open floor.

As for Ole Miss, the Rebels (9-3) are 63rd in adjusted tempo per game, yet boast a top-50 offense in total points per game. It would be wise to muck up the game, slow the tempo, and force Kentucky to play a halfcourt offense. Led by Sebastian Saiz, the SEC's leading rebounder, Ole Miss has a +6.6 rebounding margin per game this season, which leads the SEC. Keeping Kentucky off the boards -- specifically limiting second-chance opportunities -- will play a key role for Ole Miss if it is to pull the upset.

Matchup to watch

Ole Miss has had the luxury to bully people down low thus far with its rebounding. But the Rebels haven't faced Bam Adebayo, Kentucky's key interior piece who is averaging a team-high 8 rebounds per contest. Wenyan Gabriel is a long, athletic post who is bringing down nearly 6 rebounds per game. So it's not likely that Ole Miss will be able to control the paint as they have this season.

The difference could be in 3-point shooting. Can the Rebels get hot from beyond the arc? They're shooting a pretty average 37 percent clip from behind the line. But it's better than what Kentucky has been able to do outside of Malik Monk. So far, we can count on Kentucky to struggle shooting from the floor. In fact, Gary Parrish gave them an 'F' on their semester report card in shooting. In the two Wildcats losses this season, they shot 33.3 percent and 22.3 percent from 3-point range. Should the shots not fall, Ole Miss could pull off an upset. It would be the first win over a top-10 opponent for Ole Miss since knocking off tenth-ranked Missouri in 2013.

Odds and pick

KenPom: Kentucky -13

KenPom projection: Kentucky: 90 | Ole Miss: 77

Note: Odds have not been released on the game. This post will be updated when odds become available.

Pick: Kentucky -13

Kentucky has barely been in any tight games this season. Of the Wildcats' three contests decided by 20 points or less, the Wildcats are 1-2 with losses to UCLA and Louisville and a win over UNC. I feel like Kentucky will come out with something prove after falling to Louisville, and the Wildcats will make a statement with a dominating win over Ole Miss.