Sports

‘Check Lane Kiffin’s FanDuel’: Coach’s Apology For Curious Call Proves Knowledge Of Betting Intel

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Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels

iStockphoto / © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Lane Kiffin does not gamble on college football. He does not encourage it, either. The football coach does, however, follow betting lines.

He admitted as much after a close win over the University of Kentucky. He also apologized to Ole Miss backers for his role in a brutal beat.

The Rebels entered a revenge game with their SEC rivals as 8.5-point favorites. The line grew to -9.5 before kickoff. Everyone was backing Ole Miss.

A loss to the Wildcats cost Kiffin a playoff spot last season. He wasn’t going to let a repeat performance occur.

Still, the game was close. The score was knotted at 20-20 late in the third quarter. Ole Miss pulled away in the final period.

It grabbed the lead on a fourth quarter touchdown. A field goal with just over a minute left in regulation pushed the advantage to 10.

That late score not only effectively ended the contest, but it also made those Ole Miss bettors very happy. The 30-20 score covered the spread. Barring a disaster, the wagers would cash.

Enter Lane Kiffin.

Lane Kiffin is under fire for a curious call.

Kentucky drove down the field in garbage time. A 38-yard pass with less than 20 seconds left put them at the 21-yard line. Ole Miss then curiously called a timeout.

The Wildcats could not stop the clock. Down two scores, it might’ve simply conceded and allowed the final seconds to run out. The clock stoppage made Mark Stoops rethink that decision.

Needing two scores, he opted to kick a field goal, try for an onside kick, and pray for a potential Hail Mary. The field goal sailed through the uprights. It proved meaningless in terms of the final outcome.

Ole Miss won, 30-23. Kentucky covered the spread. Lane Kiffin apologized to sports bettors after the fact.

Kiffin knew the spread. He made a seemingly pointless call that directly impacted the betting result. His postgame admission further infuriated Ole Miss backers.