Staff Predictions for Alabama vs Arkansas
The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off of a nail-bitter in College Station against the Texas A&M Aggies, now they stay home for a homecoming match up against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The 1992 National Championship team led by Coach Gene Stallings will be honored as the Crimson Tide looks to make it 11 straight against the Razorbacks in the team's 28th meeting. The Razorbacks have struggled in SEC play losing last week to the South Carolina Gamecocks 48-22 as they stay on the road to play the number one team in college football.
Here is who the Tide 102.9 staff has coming out with the homecoming victory:
Martin Houston, Host of The Blitz
It's Homecoming Week and the Tide is coming off a mediocre win by the Saban standard. So look for the Tide to rebound with another blowout win. Arkansas has questions at QB, but it will have little bearing on the final outcome! I throw more "Rat Poison" on the pile w/ another outrageous prediction. Alabama puts up a performance that will make the 1992 Defense (which will be celebrating 25th Anniversary of NC season) Proud! Jalen, Damien & Bo have a big games and the 1st D pitches a shutout! Arkansas gets a couple of cheap scores late. Alabama 55 - Arkansas 10
Wimp Sanderson, Co-Host of Inside the Locker Room
Arkansas has really struggled this year. Going to Bryant Denny Stadium is not a great place to go looking for answers. The Razorbacks have struggled defending the run so look for Bama to use on its weapons in the backfield. Alabama 41 - Arkansas 10
Barry Sanderson, Co-Host of Inside the Locker Room
Alabama will get back to playing all the depth they recruited. They will also look to get aggressive against the Razorbacks QB. This one will be fairly close early but the depth will take over late for the Tide. Alabama 42 - Arkansas 13
Gary Harris, Host of The Gary Harris Show
Alabama was a 26 point favorite last weekend at Texas A&M. The Aggies made it a very competitive game, fighting back from a 24-3 third quarter deficit to make the final score 27-19. This weekend, Alabama returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium for Homecoming. The Crimson Tide is a 30 point favorite against Arkansas and this time the Tide doesn't let the opponent hang around. Alabama 42 - Arkansas 10
Travis Reier, Host of Southern Fried Sports
With quarterback Austin Allen feeling the cumulative effect of the pounding he's taken over the last season and a half and the Razorbacks still adjusting to life without their top receiver (Jared Cornelius) it's difficult to envision a scenario where the Hawgs can be competitive in this game. So I didn't. Alabama 38 - Arkansas 7
Aaron Suttles, Host of The Suttles Approach
Arkansas is not a great football team. If Austin Allen isn't 100 percent healthy, and reports are he isn't, it makes the job all the more difficult for the Hogs. Alabama 45 - Arkansas 10
Ryan Fowler, Host of The Game
Arkansas is in for a difficult game, coming off a game where the Tide played sloppy against Texas A&M, Alabama has been dialed in as they prepare for homecoming which should serve as a Tide warning for the Hawgs. I think this game will be ugly from the opening kick, I also believe Alabama will begin to get the passing attack cranked up. Alabama smokes the Razorbacks. Alabama 52 - Arkansas 10
Ben George, Digital Managing Editor
I tried looking for things that might give Arkansas an edge this weekend, but it’s tough to find a whole lot. The Hogs come in with a banged up quarterback and a redshirt freshman behind him, there hasn’t been much of a running attack, and the mood isn’t great in Fayetteville. Now the team comes to Tuscaloosa to face an Alabama team that got a bit of a scare last weekend. It’s just not a good spot for Bret Bielema’s squad. Alabama could be in store for another 350+ rushing day and I wouldn’t be surprised if the defense found the endzone as well. Alabama 49 – Arkansas 0
Thomas Paradiso, Producer
This past weekend, the world saw an Alabama team that clearly wasn't as dominant as they were in their previous 2 games. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as this can be a learning experience for the team. Still, the Tide has a Razorback team coming up that would love to spoil Homecoming. However, Arkansas has been less than stellar this year, and with them winless in the SEC, Alabama should have no trouble with with Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks. Alabama 35 - Arkansas 9
James Hardy, Producer
Alabama returns home for a homecoming celebration and will do so in grand fashion. While Texas A&M provided some resistance last weekend, Arkansas has a lot of issues going against them including who will take the majority of their snaps at quarterback. This game also gives an opportunity for Alabama's offense to get back on track as the Razorbacks have surrendered 40 or more points in each of their last three games including 48 to South Carolina last week. Alabama 47 - Arkansas 10
Josh Smith, Producer
6-0, the Tide remain undefeated. Though they faltered a bit against Texas A&M after making mental mistakes in arguably one of the toughest road games they faced thus far. The adversity was necessary for the team to fully develop and become battle ready for important games down the stretch. The Crimson Tide will be prepared to show the nation how to bounce back from mental errors. At the same time Arkansas is well aware they are coming to Bryant Denny Stadium for homecoming weekend. The Hogs would love to flip the script and gain a momentum boost heading into the second half of the season. The battle in the trenches will be a deciding factor. If Alabama establishes it's run game and doesn't fully rely on passing, then it will be long game for the Hogs. Alabama 38 - Arkansas 17
Marquis Munson, Brand Manager
This is an Arkansas team that allows opposing opponents an average of 350 yards per game and also 31.4 points. Even though Austin Allen threw for over 400 yards on this Alabama defense before, with his play being questionable at this point and with their defense being awful in SEC play, I don't think this Razorback team can get the job done unless Darren McFadden comes out there in the backfield. I don't expect the Razorbacks to come out playing like the Troy Trojans in Death Valley. Alabama 52 - Arkansas 6