Mississippi St.-Auburn, Ole Miss-Texas A&M Highlight Vegas SEC Predictions Week 7
Saturday Blitz Vegas SEC Predictions Week 7
No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide at Arkansas Razorbacks
Line: Alabama by 10
This game is more intriguing than we thought it would be at the beginning of the year. Alabama is attempting to rebound after a heartbreaking, honestly a fluke, loss to Ole Miss last week. The Tide just have to avoid freak mistakes to lose this game. The defense, despite all of the changes, is still a great defense and shouldn’t have much trouble stopping the Arkansas running game. But the offense has got to consistently move the ball, and the team as a whole can’t have unforced turnovers. The Tide were a far superior team against the Rebels and blew it the same way they blew it to Auburn last year. If they don’t have unforced mistakes, they’ll win the game.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has gained lots of respect with this incredible rushing offense under Bret Bielema this year. But to beat Alabama, they’re going to need to be a little bit more balanced, which means using quarterback Brandon Allen. Allen has been great this year, completing 60 percent of his passes and having 9 touchdowns to only 1 interception, but those efficient numbers are going to have to be put to the test in greater fashion this week. If there’s no balanced offense, there’s no win for the Tigers. The Razorbacks also have to play better defense than they have been playing. Those two things and winning the turnover battle, along with getting the home crowd in it, could be enough to pull off the upset.
Prediction
Enjoy the fantasy of the upset. It’s not happening. Alabama is going to dominate this game from start to finish. Arkansas can’t run on this dominant Alabama defensive line, and Allan is not good enough to beat this team through the air. The Tide will force a few Alabama turnovers, and the Alabama offensive line will overwhelm the Arkansas defensive line for a dominant rushing game. The Tide will pull out an easy victory in this one.
Alabama: 38 Arkansas: 17