Ole Miss proved it belongs among the nation’s best with a statement win over LSU, yet the Rebels are 3-point underdogs heading into the Swamp.

Ole Miss football heads into Week 4 as an underdog against Florida, and Rebels head coach John Sumrall is just as baffled as the rest of us. Despite a signature win over LSU that established Ole Miss as one of the best teams in the country, most sportsbooks have listed Florida as a 3-point favorite ahead of Saturday’s matchup in the Swamp.

And Sumrall seems to be just as shocked.

“Who’s got us favored against these guys,” Sumrall said Monday. “Do they? There’s a lot of good drugs out there.”

His reaction is completely justified. Ole Miss is coming off one of the most impressive victories of the early college football season, and the reward is being disrespected by the oddsmakers. The Rebels proved they can hang with anyone, and now they’re expected to fold on the road? It begs the question: what exactly do they need to do to earn some respect?

Florida’s start has been legitimately impressive

The Gators do deserve credit for their hot start. Florida is averaging 544 total yards of offense per game through three weeks, and running back Jadan Baugh is quietly building a Heisman case. Ball has racked up 458 yards and 8 touchdowns with a staggering 8.5 yards per carry. That kind of production demands attention.

Defensively, Florida has some intriguing pieces as well. Jayden Woods and Emmanuel Oyebadejo both made big plays in the Gators’ 44-39 win over Auburn, flashing the kind of athleticism that can swing games. This is not a team to overlook, but it’s not one I’m picking to beat Ole Miss.

Ole Miss has the better quarterback, and it’s not close

With that being said, anyone who thinks Ole Miss is going to lose this game is mistaken. Trinidad Chambliss established one clear thing against LSU: no matter the circumstance, no matter the setting or the challenge, he’s always going to step up and rally his team.

I am not going to be the sucker who bets against Chambliss, especially not against a Florida defense that just gave up 39 points to Byron Brown and Auburn. If that’s the unit standing between the Rebels and a road victory, the line feels backward.

If Ole Miss is going to slip up this season, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be this week. The Rebels have the better quarterback, the better résumé, and the momentum of a program that just knocked off LSU on its way to proving it belongs in the national conversation. Florida’s offensive numbers are impressive on paper, but paper doesn’t tackle Trinidad Chambliss.

Sumrall knows it. The Rebels know it. Hopefully, the rest of the country catches on by Saturday night.