The Alabama Crimson Tide are fresh off suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels, against whom they had a 10-game win streak prior the game. Can the Crimson Tide respond well after a rare loss? Or will the Arkansas Razorbacks do an Ole Miss and break their own losing streak versus Alabama? This game didn’t make our list of five best college football games to watch but it’s an intriguing matchup nonetheless. Find out more about this imminent gridiron battle at Fayetteville below.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview – October 11, 2014
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
When: Saturday, October 11, 6:00 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (-10.5) at Arkansas Razorbacks (+10.5); total: 56.5 – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Alabama did not escape the outbreak of upsets in Week 6, losing to then no. 11 Ole Miss Rebels, 23-17, costing Nick Saban’s team its place inside the top four. Now demoted to no. 7 in the rankings from no. 3, the Crimson Tide take the road anew in search of a much-needed win against the bull-rushing crew of Arkansas. They’ll arrive at Fayetteville on Saturday, carrying a seven-game win streak against Arkansas, covering the spread in five of those contests.
Blake Sims passed for 228 but had a hard time finding the end zone via the aerial route versus Ole Miss, as he failed to pass for a single touchdown after throwing eight in the Tide’s last three games. The passing futility was a little understandable, though, granted that Mississippi’s defense against the pass ranks among the best in the nation, allowing just 152.4 passing yards per game.
That said, Sims should have an easier time next week dissecting the Razorbacks’ defense, which allows 263.8 passing yards per game.
The loss to Ole Miss also brought into attention the Crimson Tide’s poor field goal kicking. In the last five losses of Alabama dating back to 2011, the Crimson Tide are just 5-of-16 on FG attempts, including a 1-of-3 performance against the Rebels.
Then there’s the fumbles, the most glaring was from Christion Jones, whose miscue resulted into a Rebels’ lead-grabbing TD in the fourth quarter. Alabama’s turnovers allowed Ole Miss to get back into the game and give the Crimson Tide a loss, one that should serve as a stark reminder that they should always play a take-no-prisoner and always aggressive style.
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Betting on the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas’ win streak may be over after picking up a 35-28 overtime loss at the hands of the Aggies in Week 5, but the Razorbacks remain a big obstacle to hurdle for any team coming their way – including SEC powerhouse Alabama. The hard-charging Razorbacks stuck right by then no. 6 and high-scoring Texas A&M for most of the game before succumbing in the end as 7.5-point road underdogs. Arkansas is now 4-0 ATS in its last four games overall.
Built around an offense that heavily relies on smashmouth rushing, do not expect Bret Bielema’s boys to deviate from their strength even against the Crimson Tide’s solid front seven. Instead, look for the backfield duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams to force the issue and challenge Alabama’s rushing defense. Arkansas is the top rushing team in the SEC, averaging 316.6 per game.
Most of the damage on the ground comes from Collins and Williams, who are averaging 124.2 and 97.2 rushing yards per game, respectively. The duo has also combined for 14 of the Razorbacks’ 20 rushing TDs thus far this season.
Arkansas’ passing game usually takes the backseat on offense, but it has the potential to come up big on Saturday against Alabama’s questionable secondary. Ole Miss’ quarterback Bo Wallace had a field day picking apart the Crimson Tide’s defense last week, passing for 251 yards and three TDs. Arkansas QB Brandon Allen could have the same success, especially if the team’s rushing game manages to steal Alabama’s attention for most of the game.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama (-10.5) gets back on track, as the Crimson Tide beat Arkansas, 35-21.
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