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Arkansas vs. Alabama prediction, odds, trends and key players for college football Week 7

By Josh Yourish

Oct 7, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jase McClellan (2) runs with the ball as Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Josh DeBerry (28) attempts to make a tackle during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jase McClellan (2) runs with the ball as Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Josh DeBerry (28) attempts to make a tackle during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama isn’t quite Alabama this year, and yet the Crimson Tide has the inside track to a meeting with Georgia in the SEC Championship game after beating Texas A&M 26-20 last week. After the Texas game and the near disaster at USF, Jalen Milroe has done just enough to lead Nick Saban’s team to 5-1 and No. 11 in the country.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are also having a down year, but their down years are a lot worse. Sam Pittman’s team is 2-4 after a loss to Ole Miss in Week 6, 27-20 and in Week 7 they are still searching for their first win in SEC play.

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Arkansas vs. Alabama odds, spread and total

Alabama and Arkansas betting trends

  • Alabama is 4-2 ATS
  • The OVER is 4-2 in Alabama games
  • Arkansas is 3-3 ATS
  • The OVER is 4-2 in Arkansas games

Arkansas vs. Alabama how to watch

  • Date: Saturday, October 14
  • Time: 12:00 PM EST
  • Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium
  • How to Watch (TV): ESPN
  • Arkansas Record: 2-4
  • Alabama Record: 5-1

Arkansas vs. Alabama key players to watch

Arkansas

Raheim Sanders, RB: The rocket was bottled up by Ole Miss last week. Sanders finished with just 15 yards on eight carries in the Razorbacks loss. He ran for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry last season, but this year he’s at 91 total yards on 34 carries across three games, averaging 2.7 a carry.

Alabama

Jermaine Burton, WR: Last week, Burton nearly had a whole season of production against Texas A&M. He was dominant, finishing with 197 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. He now leads the team in receiving yards with 386, but is second to Isaiah Bond in receptions.

Arkansas vs. Alabama prediction and pick

There are actually quite a few similarities between these teams. They both have a dual-threat quarterback and are primarily built around the running game, the only difference is that Alabama has figured out how to make that work. Arkansas is 48th in rushing attempts, but 114th in rushing yards and 81st in passing offense despite ranking 97th in pass attempts.

The Razorbacks run it a lot, but not efficiently and they don’t throw it enough despite the success KJ Jefferson has had through the air. Jefferson is completing 67.1% of his passes and has thrown for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions. He is averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. Alabama is top 20 defensively in both yards per rush and yards per pass attempt.

Last week, A&M only ran for 67 yards on Bama’s defense, so Raheim Sanders will continue to struggle for Arkansas, but Alabama actually ran for 23 yards in that game. Milroe did everything through the air to Jermaine Burton who gained 197 of their total 344 yards. Milroe’s greatest strength is pushing the ball downfield, and Arkansas’s defense ranks 89th in yards per completion and 99th in yards per attempt.

Alabama has covered against the spread in each of its last three games and in three of its last four meetings with Arkansas. I’ll take the Crimson Tide as big home favorites.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

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