Lane Kiffin takes a cheap shot at Kirby Smart, then backtracks

Ole Miss may be undefeated, but the Rebels could be in for a rude awakening on Saturday afternoon when they have to come tee it up Between the Hedges. Georgia may have suffered its first home loss at Sanford Stadium in ages, but this remains one of the toughest venues to play a college football game at as a visitor. Lane Kiffin's team may have beaten Kirby Smart's last year, but that was last year.

In the lead-up to arguably the biggest game of the week, Kiffin did not think twice about poking the bear on the other sidelines in Smart. Yes, he may have answered an impromptu question about who burns more calories on the sidelines in a game between the two coaches, but he did not have to throw Smart under the bus like this. He effectively called Georgia's head coach fat, which was mean.

Kiffin loves to manufacture bulletin-board material, the kind that Smart loves to burn calories on...

"I don't know. That's a good question. I walked by the TV and saw his press conference today. Doesn't look like he's burned too many calories. But he does have a lot of energy games and he coaches really passionately."

Kiffin followed that bit up by saying that he has gotten on Smart about the weight loss part of it all.

"I've given (Smart) heat before about the weight loss part. He says he's too stressed to work out."

He then immediately backtracked by saying that Smart is the best coach in college football today.

"He finds a way to win a lot of games, a lot of different styles. He's overcome a lot of adversity in games to keep his team together. That's why he's the best coach in college football now."

Here is a clip of Kiffin saying all that he apparently needed to say about Smart being less fit than him.

No. 9 Georgia is laying 7.5 points at home to No. 5 Ole Miss heading into Saturday afternoon's game.

Lane Kiffin better be ready to watch Kirby Smart burn a ton of calories

The thing that is most puzzling about Kiffin's comments directed toward Smart is not the so-called, playful nature of them, but the timing of it all. Ole Miss nearly lost at home to a Washington State team that has been left for dead in the no-man's land that is the barren wasteland of the old Pac-12. Ole Miss may be 6-0 to Georgia' 5-1, but the Rebels have not played anyone close to Georgia so far.

Truth be told, both teams are giving off the early vibes of College Football Playoff teams, but only one was expected to be there from the start. Ole Miss has become a good program under Kiffin, but Georgia has become a great one under Smart. Under Kiffin, the Rebels have often played the role of the plucky underdog quite well. Georgia is used to being the hunted but is adapt at playing both roles.

Overall, Kiffin better be careful for what he wishes for. Was Ole Miss not supposed to make the playoff last year with that loaded team? It beat Georgia at home, but lost to the likes of Florida and Kentucky to go 9-3... Ole Miss should be a 10-2 team this year, but the only realistic way the Rebels can get a first-round bye this year is if they beat Georgia in Athens. The Dawgs are not great, but are improving.

Kiffin keeps on giving coaches like Smart more and more bulletin-board material to build wins from.