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The Alabama Crimson Tide beat their last two opponents by a total score of 125-3 before they ran into Texas A&M their last time out. They needed the full game, but remained undefeated on the season and should get back to their dominant ways against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. That game will begin at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN (live streaming via WatchESPN).
Alabama is the No. 1 team in the nation and its remaining schedule includes a slew of teams it should beat. Arkansas is unquestionable among those teams, and the Crimson Tide have been favored by as much as 30 points for Saturday’s game.
Arkansas is 2-3 on the season and is coming off a decisive loss to South Carolina. It’s searching for answers and have little going for it at this point.
Alabama should beat them handily, though head coach Nick Saban has been in the news of late complaining about the media for being too complimentary of his team, allowing his players to get complacent. Arkansas is certainly the type of opponent that could trap a better team, so they have to be on their toes.
Below is all you need to know to watch the action on Saturday, as well as full game odds and news for the meeting.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
- Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: WatchESPN
- Odds: Alabama opened as 29.5-point favorites for the game.
Arkansas vs. Alabama news:
- Alabama’s new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is spreading the ball around, with 12 skill position players seeing action on offense against Texas A&M. That should continue against Arkansas.
- The fans over at Roll Bama Roll are feeling fairly confident about beating Arkansas on Saturday:
The Hogs typically don’t do anything fancy, just try and run the ball right at you and then push it down the field vertically. The embattled Bielema preaches physical play, and he usually gets it. Look for the team to try and rally around its coach this week as the media has all but fired him following a rather listless effort in Columbia. Still, there is a great enough talent discrepancy here that the Tide should be able to effectively shut this unit down if they come to play.
- Counting on Arkansas to beat the spread is probably not a safe bet: It hasn’t covered since Nov. 19 of 2016, and are 2-5 straight-up and 0-7 against the spread over its last seven games.
- Arkansas starting quarterback Austin Allen left the team’s game against South Carolina with a shoulder injury. He could play on Saturday, but Alabama is preparing for both Allen and redshirt freshman Cole Kelley under center.
Arkansas vs. Alabama prediction:
There really is no reason that Alabama should lose Saturday’s game. It is better than Arkansas in every single way, and should be dominant. Anything less than a blowout would be a disappointment for the top team in the nation.