Arkansas at Alabama Spread


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The Arkansas Razorbacks travel to face the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams. This game has huge implications in the SEC West division, and it’s a rematch from last year’s 24-20 road victory by Alabama. In fact, the Crimson Tide have won four straight meetings with the Razorbacks since falling 23-24 in overtime back in 2006. This game will be nationally televised on CBS at 3:30 EST Saturday.

According to the week 4 college football spreads, Alabama is listed as an 11.5-point home favorite.

Alabama

Aside from a 27-11 road victory at Penn State in week 2, the Crimson Tide haven’t really been tested yet in 2011. They throttled Kent State 48-7 in their opener, and blanked North Texas 41-0 last week. Those are two of the worst teams in the country, and Alabama is going to have to put their best foot forward if they want to come away with a victory over Arkansas Saturday.

The Crimson Tide feature arguably the best defense in the entire country. They rank No. 3 in total defense (170 yards/game) and No. 2 in scoring defense (6.0 points/game). Their offense is also elite, ranking No. 20 in total offense (475.7 yards/game) and No. 23 in scoring (38.7 points/game). This is a team that can run the football, averaging 242 rushing yards/game, which is good for No. 14 in the land.

AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims opened the season in a quarterback battle, but that job has clearly been won by McCarron. He has thrown for 579 yards while completing 64.0 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Trent Richardson (315 yards, 6.3/carry, eight TD) and Eddie Lacy (304 yards, 10.9/carry, three TD) form a dynamic 1-2 punch at running back. Marquis Maze has been the top target at receiver, catching 15 balls for 186 yards and a score. Darius Hanks just returned last week against North Texas, finishing with two receptions for 20 yards. His return will make this offense more dynamic going forward.

Arkansas

Like Alabama, the Razorbacks have not been tested just yet. They beat Missouri State 51-7 in their opener, followed by a 52-3 victory over New Mexico in week 2. They did get a scare last week from Troy in a spot where they may have been looking ahead to Alabama, but managed to come away with a 38-28 victory. The Trojans actually outgained the Razorbacks 457-454 for the game, and Arkansas nearly squandered a 24-0 lead. They were missing three senior starters in DE Jake Bequette and WR’s Jarius Wright and Greg Childs, so that may have had something to do with the sloppy performance.

The Razorbacks boast the No. 10 offense in the country, racking up 517.4 total yards/game through the first three weeks. Arkansas is also No. 8 in scoring offense, averaging a whopping 47.0 points/game. They have the No. 35 defense in the land at 305.7 yards/game surrendered, along with the No. 17 scoring defense (12.7 points/game).

Junior QB Tyler Wilson is off to a fast start, throwing for 822 yards on 68.6 percent completions with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Ronnie Wingo has led the way on the ground, rushing for 225 yards on 5.2/carry with two touchdowns. Kody Walker has a team-high five rushing scores. Cobi Hamilton (13 receptions, 252 yards, one TD), Joe Adams (15 receptions, 198 yards, one TD) and Jarius Wright (11 receptions, 171 yards, three TD) have been Wilson’s top targets. Both Wright and Greg Childs are listed as day-to-day, so make sure that you keep up on their statuses if you are going to wager on this game.

Betting Trends

The Crimson Tide are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 September games. Alabama is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite.

Arkansas has been a great bet in SEC play, going 10-1 ATS in their last 11 conference games. The Razorbacks are also 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games as an underdog of 10.5 or greater.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Arkansas at Alabama Spread”

  1. Leigh Ann Counts on September 21st, 2011 9:29 PM

    This morning I opened my page to an ALABAMA FOOTBALL FAN group that I am in, and to my disgust I saw a picture from the April 27th tornado coming through Tuscaloosa, Al. that showed an Albama football player being swept up in a tornado!! This was the most HATRED picture that I have ever seen !!!! I am all for good friendly joking and rivalry…. BUT THIS WEN’T TOO FAR!!!!! LIVES WERE LOST AND CHANGED ON THAT DAY ,AND A DISASTER SHOULD NEVER!!!! BE USED AS A PART OF A SO-CALLED JOKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R A JERK!!

  2. Jack Jones on September 22nd, 2011 8:20 AM

    I’m not quite sure how this makes me a jerk. We don’t have any pictures like that on our site.

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