LSU vs. Arkansas: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
The LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks will have a lot in common when the two meet in Fayetteville for what is sure to be a brutal SEC encounter.
Both programs tout similar philosophies: run the ball and play great defense. LSU enters after a crushing overtime loss to Alabama at home, but Arkansas surely understands that feeling—last time out for the Razorbacks, they fell narrowly 17-10 to No. 1 Mississippi State.
With inclement weather inbound, the run and overall physical nature of these two programs will put on a violent affair Saturday night as they vent their frustrations with how the season has unfolded.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Traditional, conquer-the-environment football is on the slate. Bask in the rare occurrence.
War of Attrition
LSU prides itself on its ability to run the football. Even though Les Miles sounds somewhat disheartened by a miserable forecast that calls for temperatures in the 20s and snow, one could bet the coach would have it no other way.
"Obviously, the weather is what it is," Miles said, per Mike Herndon of AL.com. "When you get there, you're going to have to make adjustments in the things that you're willing to or want to do, or you're not. We're both suited, I would guess, for what could be the possibility of bad weather. It might end up being 50 runs a team."
LSU has a three-headed monster at tailback that masks the up-and-down play the Tigers continue to get from under center:
| Leonard Fournette | 152 | 736 | 4.8 | 40 | 7 |
| Terrence Magee | 81 | 447 | 5.5 | 38 | 3 |
| Kenny Hilliard | 87 | 431 | 5.0 | 28 (TD) | 6 |
| Darrel Williams | 55 | 264 | 4.8 | 22 (TD) | 3 |
Impressive, right? Arkansas does the same exact thing:
| Jonathan Williams | 137 | 877 | 6.4 | 90 (TD) | 10 |
| Alex Collins | 134 | 840 | 6.3 | 84 (TD) | 10 |
| Kody Walker | 30 | 149 | 5.0 | 11 | 1 |
| Korliss Marshall | 24 | 116 | 4.8 | 27 (TD) | 1 |
As one can imagine, the two are pretty close in the ranks. Arkansas comes in at No. 17 with an average of 248.2 rushing yards per game. LSU is 29th at 221.4.
Both defenses are predictably well-equipped to stop the run, too. LSU ranks fifth in the nation with just 16.3 points allowed per game on average. Arkansas has worse luck in that area, but keep in mind it is the same unit that held Alabama to 66 rushing yards earlier this season.
It should come as no surprise that the two annually put on close affairs, as LSU's sports information director Michael Bonnette details:
Saturday night may not have wide-ranging implications like some of the earlier games do, but LSU and Arkansas might just put on a classic, anyway.
One Play...
...Changes everything between these two.
| Jeremy Johnson (Auburn) | 243 | 2 |
| Kenny Hill (Texas A&M) | 386 | 4 |
| Blake Sims (Alabama) | 161 | 2 |
| Hutson Mason (Georgia) | 179 | 2 |
| Dak Prescott (Miss. State) | 331 | 1 |
Just look at last year when a deep ball from Anthony Jennings to Travin Dural allowed LSU to overcome Arkansas.
That would be the heart of the problem for Bret Bielema's team once again this season. The Razorbacks allow 10.5 yards per passing attempt against SEC opponents this season. Even Georgia's Hutson Mason looked solid against the up-and-down Arkansas secondary.
Thus far, Jennings has completed a miserable 47.1 percent of his passes this year with nine touchdowns to six interceptions. But he has a superb cast of talent to hit on each down, ranging from Dural (701 yards, seven touchdowns) to Malachi Dupre (271 and five) and beyond.
Should the Razorbacks get lulled to sleep in the sloppy conditions and Jennings heave a clunker deep, it may decide the game outright.
When: Saturday, November 15, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Television: ESPN2
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 47.5
- Spread: Arkansas (-2)
Team Injury Reports
| Kendell Beckwith | LB | 11/12/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Probable | hamstring |
| Jared Foster | QB | 09/06/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | foot |
| Davon Godchaux | DT | 11/09/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Questionable | leg |
| Trey Lealaimatafao | DT | 08/02/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | arm |
| Dwayne Thomas | CB | 09/29/2014 | is expected to miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Travonte Valentine | DT | 09/10/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | eligibility |
| Korliss Marshall | RB | 10/23/2014 | is suspended indefinitely | Suspended | disciplinary |
| JoJo Robinson | WR | 09/18/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | foot |
| Henre' Toliver | CB | 11/09/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against LSU | Questionable | back |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
It is hard to trust LSU heading into a hostile environment after a gut-wrenching loss.
Sometimes Las Vegas is just right, no matter how silly the lines seem. The Tigers have a stable of talented backs but encounter an elite run defense and may struggle to get anything going through the air.
Conversely, Arkansas comes off a bye both rested and armed with an extra week of preparation for this very contest. It is a scary concoction that suggests the Razorbacks can pull off the upset in what is a traditionally close encounter.
Prediction: Razorbacks 24, Tigers 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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