Arkansas vs Vanderbilt: Last-Minute Spread Info, Line, BCS Impact and Prediction

There is a great slate of SEC games this week, including the Vanderbilt Commodores playing host to the No. 10 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.

It should be a good matchup. Vanderbilt is coming off their first win in a month and looking to continue that momentum, as they hope to go bowling this season.

Arkansas is sick and tired of having to come from behind to pull off late victories and should be looking to close this out early.

We’ll see what happens on Saturday, but read on to find out all you need to know about this great game.

Where: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN

When: Saturday, Oct. 29 at 12:21 p.m. EDT

Watch: SEC Network/ESPN 3

Spread: Arkansas -10

I like Arkansas as a favorite fewer than two touchdowns here.

The only spread the Razorbacks have failed to cover this season was when they played Alabama, and for some reason, were only a 12.5-point underdog to the toughest team in the nation.

They have covered each time they have been a favorite even against solid teams like Auburn. Expect them to handle their business against the Commodores.

Over/Under: 52.5

I like the over here. The Commodores have not yet seen an over/under this high, but have gone over in their last two games.

The Razorbacks have only seen an over/under set so low one time when they played Alabama at 50.5 and it went over that. Other than that, they have been playing in games lined around the 60-point mark and consistently hitting near it.

Key Injuries (via CollegeInjuryReport.com)

Arkansas

RB Kody Walker, OUT (Leg): With Knile Davis out, the Razorbacks have had to rely on other players to build a solid rushing game. Walker is a freshman that scored five touchdowns in three games, but just underwent shin surgery around ten days ago. He could be out a while longer.

Vanderbilt

DT TJ Greenstone, DBT (Leg): Greenstone hurt his left leg against the Crimson Tide and hasn’t practiced since. He did not play the past two games, and it does not look like he will be active against Arkansas.

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

Arkansas is just inside the top 10 of the current BCS rankings and will be looking to position themselves to move up a bunch if they can win on Saturday.

SEC rivals LSU and ‘Bama play each other the week after that, while the Razorbacks have a tough game against South Carolina that day. By winning this week and next, Arkansas could easily jump up anywhere from five to eight on the rankings.

They end their season against LSU, who they could upset and possibly head to a top bowl game if they do that.

They just need to get past a sneaky Vanderbilt team before they think about all of that, though.

Keys to Arkansas Win

Build an early lead.

Arkansas has seemingly played nothing but nail biters and always seems to come-from-behind late to win.

Coach Bobby Petrino can’t be pleased with these performances, and eventually, that type of play is going to catch up to them.

They need to establish an early lead and play solid defense and pound the rock to hold it.

Keys to Vanderbilt Win

Don’t give up.

As we know, this Arkansas team has a habit of getting down and having to play from behind.

If Vanderbilt doesn’t get complacent with their lead (assuming they build one), they need to keep their foot on the gas and never give up attempting to score.

Vandy just got a nice win over Army, and that should be a morale boost after falling to South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia three weeks in a row.

They need to take that momentum into this game and apply pressure right from the opening kickoff.

Prediction

Arkansas 36 – Vanderbilt 21