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Arkansas Football: Game preview, prediction, live stream vs. New Mexico State

By Matthew Bartlett

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 9: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drops back to make a hand off during a game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Horn Frogs defeated the Razorbacks 28-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 9: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drops back to make a hand off during a game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Horn Frogs defeated the Razorbacks 28-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Coming off an overtime loss to Texas A&M, Arkansas football hosts New Mexico State in Week 5. Get your streaming info, predictions and more right here.

Arkansas football hasn’t beaten the Aggies since Bret Bielema came to town in 2013. This weekend they’ll have a chance to earn their first victory over the Aggies, albeit of New Mexico State, not Texas A&M.

The win over their SEC-foes would have been valuable, but avoiding a loss against New Mexico State has suddenly become overly important. Bielema’s seat got a bit warmer after falling to the maroon and white in overtime for the third time in the past four years. If he can’t find a way to be competitive in the SEC soon, the people in charge at Arkansas will have to start considering a change. But, before he can get there, he needs to take care of business against NMSU.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Arkansas football game against New Mexico State:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Venue: Razorback Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to victory

The Aggies will put all their eggs in the Larry Rose III basket. Their senior running back enters this game with 83 total touches (63 carries, 20 receptions) for 522 total yards of offense and three scores. Arkansas has been vulnerable against the run, allowing 285 yards on the ground last weekend to the Aggies of Texas A&M.

For the Razorbacks, they need to get senior quarterback Austin Allen into a rhythm. He completed 61.1 percent of his passes last season but carries just a 52.2 completion percentage into the game against New Mexico State. The running game should do just fine against NMSU, but Allen needs to take to the air and rebuild some confidence lost from a rough start.

Prediction

Arkansas has proven susceptible to weaker non-conference competition in the past. Toledo upset the Hogs at home in 2015. While they might have some problems to work through, this isn’t a game that should give the Razorbacks much of a problem.

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Hogs’ rusher Chris Hayden secures the starting job with a 100-yard, two touchdown performance and Austin Allen picks the Aggies apart through the air. New Mexico just doesn’t have the weapons to keep pace with even a lower-tiered SEC opponent.

Final Score: Arkansas 35, New Mexico State 17

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