Arkansas vs Alabama: Preview, predictions, betting odds & live stream

Sep 19, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) passes during the first quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Allen vs. Jake Coker

Like starting pitchers in baseball, opposing quarterbacks don’t actually match-up with one another on Saturdays. However, one of the keys to this weeks game between Arkansas and Alabama is which quarterback – Arkansas’ Brandon Allen or Alabama’s Jake Coker – will make enough plays to lead his team to a victory.

Allen is the most experienced signal caller in the SEC. He has made 30 career starts, which is five more than Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, and Allen ranks second to Prescott among active SEC QBs with 5,383 career passing yards and 42 touchdown passes. Perhaps because of that experience and past  production, Allen has played a bigger role in the offense early this season as a passer than most expected.

Coming into this week’s SEC West battle, Allen has 1,371 passing yards, which is the second most in the SEC and ranks in the top 20 nationally. Given the Hogs’ history under head coach Bret Bielema as a run-first squad, and the Arkansas receiving corps has been decimated by injury, those numbers are somewhat surprising.

Allen also ranks among the league leaders and in the top 33 in the country in completion percentage (66.0 percent, No. 3 in the SEC, No. 26 in the country), passing efficiency (161.4 rating, No. 3/No. 15), passing touchdowns (8, No. 5/No. 33), total offense (292.4 yards per game, No. 3/No. 26) and yards per attempt (9.65, No. 1/No. 6). He has thrown three interceptions in 141 attempts this season.

As for Coker, the Mobile, Alabama native has thrown for 976 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions this season, and has added 73 rushing yards and two scored on the ground. Last week, Coker completed 11 of 16 passes for 190 yards, including a perfect 50-yard strike to true freshman wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who had 120 receiving yards on five catches.

Both Arkansas and Alabama would probably prefer to lean on their rushing attacks to win the game Saturday, but in all likelihood, one of their senior signal callers will need to make a big play to lead his team to victory.

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