The Florida Gators host SEC rivals Ole Miss on Thursday night, and this should be a great game. The Gators pushed Kentucky to the brink on Saturday, but came up just short in a 68-61 loss. The Rebels come in riding a five game winning streak that started with a 72-71 home win over Florida on January 24. This sets up a nice revenge spot for the Gators in Gainesville.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Home Cookin' - The Gators are 8-4 overall at home this season, and they've won four of their last five home meetings versus the Rebels. The number they are asked to cover in tonight's game is lower than it was in any of those previous five games.

2. Strength of Schedule - The Rebels come in as winners of five straight, while the Gators have lost five of their last seven. At first glance it would appear that Ole Miss has been playing better basketball of late. When you consider that the Rebels wins have come against the likes of Auburn and Missouri on the road, while Florida's last two home losses have come to LSU and Kentucky, it paints a different picture.

3. X-Factor - The Rebels will have to do a better job of defending the perimeter if they want to pull off an upset tonight. The Gators hit 12-of-20 from beyond the arc in Mississippi in the last meeting.

Selection: This is a play on the Florida Gators (10*)