Arkansas vs. Missouri: 2014 Battle Line Rivalry TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates
For the first time since 1963, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Missouri Tigers will play in the regular season.
There is no sexy bid for the College Football Playoff on the line. But there is Arkansas as one of the most dangerous teams in the nation and already bowl-eligible. There is Missouri's quest to win the SEC East and play in the title game.
There is the birth of the Battle Line Rivalry.
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In what promises to be a brutal affair between two like-minded SEC members, a tradition will be created. While not the biggest game on Friday's slate, this one is the most deserving of attention from fans around the globe.
Trench Warfare
The cliche "something has to give" certainly applies when looking at these two teams.
Missouri does the majority of its offensive damage on the ground thanks to the efforts of tailbacks Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy. The former has 858 yards and nine scores, the latter has 689 and three.
The nation knows about Arkansas' elite ground attack at this point. It is the main reason the Razorbacks have made it through a schedule that includes Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri to become bowl-eligible:
| Jonathan Williams | 175 | 1013 | 5.8 | 11 |
| Alex Collins | 173 | 965 | 5.6 | 12 |
| Kody Walker | 30 | 149 | 5.0 | 1 |
| Korliss Marshall | 25 | 119 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Keon Hatcher | 4 | 110 | 27.5 | 1 |
"I know this, we're playing as good as anybody," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said, per The Associated Press, via FoxSports.com. "I'm sure there's a team or two that would be a matchup issue for us, but we're playing really good … If you just put us in a room right now with anybody, I think we could hold our own very, very well."
Author Zach Law puts one aspect of the impending physical matchup into perspective:
The biggest caveat of all? Both teams rank 16th nationally with an average of just 20.2 points allowed per game.
That said, the number is certainly more impressive for the Razorbacks given the aforementioned schedule and the fact the unit has now shut out LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back games.
Regardless, something truly will have to give Friday.
Ruining the Party
If there is one player set to take the field in Columbia who can ruin how this game figures to play out, it is Tigers sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk.
That sounds strange to say provided the fact he is the guy who tossed four interceptions on 21 attempts in a 34-0 loss to Georgia earlier this season. But Mauk has turned up his play a notch and has seven touchdowns to just one interception over the course of his last four outings.
His most recent was impressive, too, as SEC Network illustrates:
Granted, Mauk has not completed better than 60 percent of his passes in seven games and counting, but if there is a way to counteract what may be gaudy rushing totals by Arkansas, it is scores through the air by the sophomore.
Whereas Arkansas ignores the passing game because it can (and will Friday with quarterback Brandon Allen injured), Missouri at least attempts to get Mauk going each time out for his propensity to score in a hurry.
If Mauk can ride recent momentum gained by saving his team's SEC East title hopes, this one may not exactly be a ground-based affair.
When: Friday, November 28, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
Television: CBS
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: N/A
- Spread: Arkansas (-1.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Brandon Allen | QB | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Missouri | Questionable | hip |
| A.J. Derby | TE | 11/24/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Missouri | Questionable | knee |
| JoJo Robinson | WR | 09/18/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | foot |
| Levi Copelin | WR | 09/16/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Aarion Penton | CB | 11/25/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arkansas | Questionable | hamstring |
| Morgan Steward | RB | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | hip |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
The Razorbacks are about to shock the globe again.
Missouri's defense ranks well, but keep in mind that both of the team's losses this season have come against the strong rushing attacks of Indiana and Georgia. Both programs were able to bruise their way to a minimum of 210 yards and three scores on the ground apiece.
Now think of what that deep, physical Arkansas attack will do to the unit.
Look for the Razorbacks to have a field day in Columbia.
Prediction: Razorbacks 28, Tigers 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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