Arkansas VS LSU is set to kickoff at 6PM on ESPN saturday the 19th, what are some things to look for and keys to the game?
Lets start here, since 2000 Arkansas is just sub of .500 in games coming off the bye week. LSU is about to.700 against teams coming off their bye week. Theres a thing to lookout for.
As of now, ESPN predictor has this set at about a 50/50 matchup in favor of LSU with no over/under currently. My prediction is LSU will be a 1.5 point-3 Point favorite come kickoff. I have the Hogs covering either way. This is a game I can see going to overtime under the lights.
By the Stats:
Qb- LSU, with Nuss having a 10td advantage and 150 yd advantage on geeen
RB-Arkansas, They are a run first team, even af the qb position with both qb and RB in top 10 in rushing. LSU does seem to have found their RB1 Though.
WR- Arkansas, giving them the slight advantage because of Armstrong and size of the core. LSU has a more balanced WR group and utilizes their TE’s tho which is something Arkansas has fell short on thus far
O-Line- LSU. Although Arkansas had a decent showing vs a salty Tennessee defense, it was the first good performance of the season. LSU has had their struggles as well but their chemistry is there.
Secondary- Arkansas. Hogs have been well improved under T-Will, Only allowing 1-3 Big plays a game in the second level. They have been a no fly zone thus far this season.
LB’s- 50/50. With a healthy Harold perkins, this is a clear LSU favor, but he’s out for season. Why is it a toss up? while the hogs LB core is strong, it’s undisciplined. The few big plays Arkansas has had were broke free from the second level on missed tackles. The LB core also has committed more personal fouls than any other group on the team.
D Line- LSU. Even with landon jackson, cam ball, eric gregory… Outside of this Tenner game, they have been awful about causing pressure on the qb’s. One thing Arkansas cant do against LSU is allow Nuss to have time to throw and let plays develop. If T-Will has a gameplan for the Tigers with some of these blitz packages they threw at tenner though… LSU could be in trouble. For the time being though, LSU has the more consistent D-Line.
Special teams- 50/50. Arkansas has an amazing punter and return team. Arkansas has won many field position battles so far. Why is this a tossup? Arkansas has suffered at kicker without cam little. Our “starting” kicker pulled his groin vs tennessee. These two kickers have also been extremely unreliable. At the end of the day, if it comes down to FG’s… LSU will win this game.
This Game will be a chess match between coordinators and Head coaches. The problem is, Arkansas cant win the head coaching matchup. They can win the coordinator matchup but at the end of the day, Sam pittman wins less than 20% of his one score games. This will be another 1 score game. Stats say that for every one score win, Arkansas loses 3-4 more after. Can pittman beat the streak?
Stat projector, LSU 36- Arkansas 34 (2-OT)
My prediction, LSU 27- Arkansas 30 (Regulation)