Arkansas @ Alabama preview
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) Alabama 52, Arkansas 0
Top-ranked Alabama goes for its seventh straight victory over Arkansas when the Crimson Tide host the reeling Razorbacks on Saturday. Alabama last week won its 10th straight dating to last season, trampling Kentucky 48-7, and the defense is again playing at a championship level. The unit went 14 quarters without allowing a touchdown until the Wildcats scored and Alabama ranks second nationally in points allowed (11.3) and seventh in rushing defense (87.2 yards per game).
Arkansas dropped its fourth straight, tying for the longest losing streak of new coach Bret Bielema’s career, with last week’s 52-7 home loss to South Carolina. The Razorbacks are 0-3 in the SEC for the first time since 2007 as they prepare for their fourth consecutive ranked opponent. Making matters worse, they just lost senior defensive tackle Robert Thomas (31 tackles, 3.5 sacks) for the season to a broken leg.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Alabama -28.5
ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-4, 0-3 SEC): Sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen has completed fewer than 50 percent of his throws in four straight games, culminating in last week’s 4-of-12 performance for 30 yards with an interception. The Hogs rank 24th nationally in rushing (216.3) as Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams have combined for eight touchdowns and nearly 1,300 yards. Arkansas’ losses have come by a progressively higher margin: 4, 12, 20, 45.
ABOUT ALABAMA (6-0, 3-0): Senior quarterback AJ McCarron is completing 68.9 percent of his throws with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, giving him a school-record 60 scoring passes in his career. Running backs T.J. Yeldon (6.5 yards per carry) and Kenyan Drake (7.3) form a lethal 1-2 punch - they each scored twice last week and have combined for 11 touchdowns this season. Alabama has outscored opponents 149-16 since its 49-42 victory at Texas A&M.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Alabama leads the all-time series 13-8, winning 52-0 in Fayetteville, Ark., last year.
2. Tide G Anthony Steen is the reigning SEC offensive lineman of the week after not allowing a sack or a hurry against Kentucky.
3. Losing Thomas was a devastating blow for Arkansas as he ranked third on the team with six tackles for loss.
PREDICTION: Alabama 48, Arkansas 10