The No. 1 Crimson Tide (-32) are preparing to welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks to Alabama. Interested parties can catch the action live on ESPN and this SEC game is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama is the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 32 points to Arkansas. If the Tide fall behind early it will create a worthwhile in-game betting scenario. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55.5 points.
The game’s total has not moved after it was set initially at 55.5. Having said that, the opening line was -33 so has recently moved up to -32.
The Razorbacks are 2-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.0 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under mark of 2-5.
The Crimson Tide are up 1.0 unit this season. The team is 3-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-3.
The perfect Razorbacks have gone just 2-5 straight up (SU), including 0-4 SU against conference opponents. The Crimson Tide are 7-0 SU overall and 4-0 SU in conference play.
These two squads met last year with the final outcome being a 65-31 victory for Alabama.
The Razorbacks fell to Auburn 51-10 in a blowout where the passing attack the big culprit as Ben Hicks completed only 19 passes on 39 attempts for 182 yards, as well as a score and a pick. Rakeem Boyd (39 rushing yards on 13 attempts) led the ground attack. Cheyenne O’Grady (seven receptions, 72 yards, one TD) and Trey Knox (three catches, 34 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Alabama just earned a 35-13 win over Tennessee. As a group, the Tide collectively completed 18-of-24 passes for 233 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tua Tagovailoa went 11-for-12 for 155 yards and one interception while Mac Jones was six-of-11 for 72 yards. Najee Harris had an outstanding statline in the win. In addition to 105 yards on 21 rush attempts (and two TDs), Harris also reeled in four catches for 48 yards.
Arkansas has run the ball on 44.6 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 42 percent across possessions in conference play. Alabama has an overall rush percentage of 50.1 percent, and has kept it on the ground 47.2 percent of the time when facing SEC opponents. The Razorbacks have produced 134.9 rush yards per game (including 98.5 per game against Southeastern opponents) and have eight touchdowns on the ground this year. The Tide are totaling 166.4 rushing yards per game (131.5 in conference) and have 14 total rush TDs.
It appears that the Tide could own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their backfield has generated 5.1 yards per carry while the defense has allowed 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Razorbacks have tallied 4.3 yards per carry while allowing 4.8 YPC to opponents.
The Razorbacks offensive scheme has averaged 250.4 yards through the air overall (225.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has nine passing scores so far. The Tide have produced an astonishing 347 pass yards per game (360 in the SEC) and have 29 total pass TDs.
Arkansas has allowed opponents to run for an average of 192.9 yards and pass for 220 yards per game. The Alabama D has allowed 190.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 130.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tide are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.26 to opposing QBs, while the Razorbacks have given up a 6.74 ANY/A.
Tagovailoa likely has the edge over Hicks in this one. The Crimson Tide man under center has an adjusted net yards per pass attempt 13.49 for the season and 8.81 over his last two outings while Hicks’ ANY/A is 4.71 (and 4.15 over the last two games).
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Free Pick
SU Winner: Alabama, ATS Winner: Arkansas, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- Each team defense has tallied 18 sacks this year.
- The Alabama offense has lost two fumbles this season while the Arkansas offense has let four get away.
- The Razorbacks offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Crimson Tide have accounted for nine such plays.
- The Arkansas defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Alabama has given up one such play.
- The Arkansas offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Alabama has created five such runs.
- The Razorbacks defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Crimson Tide have given up 12 such runs.
- The O/U for Alabama’s previous game was set at 63.5. The under cashed in the 35-13 win over Tennessee.
- In its last three contests, Alabama is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three games, Arkansas is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Arkansas has lost six of its last seven games SU, with a 21-point win over Colorado State on September 14th accounting for the only victory over that stretch.
- The O/U for Arkansas’ previous game was set at 55.5. The over cashed in the team’s 51-10 loss to Auburn.
- Arkansas has averaged 4.0 yards per carry across its past three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
- Alabama has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.5 over its last two.
