Arkansas vs. Alabama: Why Razorbacks Will Still Be Second Fiddle to Crimson Tide

The Arkansas Razorbacks hit the road to take on their SEC West foe, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, they won't be able to hang with the extremely talented Alabama defense. 

A year ago, the Crimson Tide won by four points, but both teams look much different on offense this year. The defense for both teams have greatly improved since they last met, but once again, it's Alabama who has the edge. If the Razorbacks still had Knile Davis, then this would be a different story, but that's the fate they've been dealt, and they're doing the best to win with what they've got. 

Bobby Petrino's squad didn't come out and thrash Troy last week like they were expected to, which doesn't bode well for this Saturday.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson has been OK so far, and we all know he did a decent job stepping in for Ryan Mallett last year for against Auburn. Now he has the pressure of being the starter, and playing at Bryant-Denny Stadium is not going to be easy—especially when he's going up against a defense that's giving up an average of six points. 

The Crimson Tide are led by linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick—all who are likely to be first-round draft picks in 2012.

Nick Saban told ESPN's Chris Low that he's still trying to figure out who this team actually is, which is only a little surprising since they lost so much talent on offense last year.  

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"The only time they’ve really had to play like you want to see them play was up at Penn State, and they competed well. We didn’t always execute. We’ve got a lot of things we can improve on, just paying attention to detail and the execution."

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The Razorbacks will be the Crimson Tide's first true test on the year, but it's a home game that Alabama is not going to lose. Arkansas will put points on the board early, but Alabama will make the necessary adjustments and shut them down.  

Alabama is still trying to prove that they're the best team in the SEC, and they can take a big step towards the top with an impressive win over the Razorbacks. 

The defense is something Alabama doesn't have to worry about because they're going to make plays and stop Arkansas, but the offense is what fans should be concerned about. 

Trent Richardson hasn't exploded from the start like everyone assumed this Heisman candidate would, but this weekend is a good time to get his name out there on the Heisman stage. The star running back is the focal point of their offense, and he is a safety net for whichever quarterback plays. 

Speaking of quarterbacks, Saban continues to play A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims, but after this week a clear-cut starter has to emerge. McCarron has been the favorite so far, but it's not like Sims is playing horrible. Now that the Crimson Tide are hitting the meat of their schedule preparing for a tough SEC run, its time for McCarron to take it to the next level and truly dominate. 

In the end, it all comes down to which team can make the bigger plays and the key stops on third down. The Crimson Tide has the advantage in both areas, which is why they'll thrive on Saturday at home. 

Alabama 28, Arkansas 17