The Missouri Tigers (-11) are heading neutral to face their SEC foe Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium. This Friday SEC game is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on CBS and the opening kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers
In this Friday Southeastern game, Missouri is labeled as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 11 points. The Tigers are also receiving -450 moneyline odds while the Razorbacks are +325. If one side gets out in front in the early stages it would generate a nice live betting scenario. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
The game’s total has been driven higher after opening at 53.5. The original line has remained firm.
The underwhelming Tigers are down 13.6 units so far in 2019 and 4-7 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 2-9.
The Razorbacks are down 4.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-8 ATS and have an O/U record of 5-6.
The Tigers are 5-6 straight up (SU), including 2-5 SU against conference opponents. The Razorbacks are 2-9 SU overall and 0-7 SU in conference play.
The Tigers fell to Tennessee 24-20 in a matchup where the defense allowed the Volunteers to pass for 415 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 111 yards. Josh Palmer had a productive day for the Volunteers in that one with 124 yards on six catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Kelly Bryant completed 16-of-28 passes for just 166 yards and one touchdown. Larry Rountree III (43 yards on 16 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Bryant (18 yards on 10 carries) led the running attack in the loss. Barrett Banister (five receptions, 46 yards) and Daniel Parker Jr. (four catches, 25 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Arkansas most recently suffered a 56-20 defeat to LSU. The defense allowed the Tigers to pass for 352 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 260 yards and five scores. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on a different level for LSU, recording 188 rushing yards and three touchdowns on six attempts, along with 65 yards on seven catches. As a group, the Razorbacks collectively completed 13-of-28 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown. K.J. Jefferson went seven-for-14 for 105 yards while Nick Starkel was three-of-10 for 34 yards. Rakeem Boyd (33 rushing yards on 13 attempts) and the signal-caller Jefferson (zero yards on 12 carries) led the ground game in the defeat while Treylon Burks (three receptions, 80 yards) and Mike Woods (three catches, 47 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
Missouri has run the ball on 54.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arkansas has an overall rush percentage of 47.9 percent. The Tigers have rushed for 152.4 yards per game (including 129.4 per game versus Southeastern opponents) and have 12 scores via handoffs this year. The Razorbacks are totaling 145.5 rushing yards per game (114 in conference) and have 14 total rush TDs.
The Tigers offensive scheme has logged 226 yards/game through the air overall (199 per game versus conference opposition) and has 16 passing scores so far. The Razorbacks have produced 203.5 pass yards per contest (186 in the SEC) and have 12 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Missouri appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 129.8 yards and pass for 188.5 yards per game. The Arkansas defense has allowed 233.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 228.5 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.49 to opposing QBs, while the Razorbacks have given up an 8.06 ANY/A.
Offensively, Bryant is up to 2,011 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 156-of-253 attempts with 15 scores through the air and five interceptions. Bryant has a 7.26 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.19 over the last two outings.
K.J. Jefferson has managed to complete 8-of-16 passes for 137 yards, zero TDs and zero INTs for Arkansas. His ANY/A stands at 5.84 for the year and 2.21 over his past two games.
These two schools met a year ago with the final result being a 38-0 win for Missouri.
Missouri Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Free Pick
SU Winner: Missouri, ATS Winner: Missouri, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The O/U for Missouri’s last game was set at 47.5. The under cashed in the team’s 24-20 defeat to Tennessee.
- Missouri, as a team, has rushed for 2.2 yards per attempt over its past three contests and 2.3 over its last two.
- Arkansas has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.2 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost six fumbles this season.
- In its last three matchups, Missouri is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Arkansas’ previous outing was set at 70. The over cashed in the 56-20 defeat to LSU.
- Over its last three matchups, Arkansas is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- Arkansas has dropped 10 of its last 11 games SU, with a 21-point win over Colorado State on September 14th accounting for its only victory over that stretch.
- The Tigers offense has registered nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Razorbacks have put up six such plays.
- The Missouri defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arkansas has given up nine such plays.
- The Missouri offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arkansas has created 14 such runs.
- The Tigers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Razorbacks have given up 35 such runs.
- The Missouri defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times this year. Arkansas has recorded 18 sacks.
