Arkansas vs. LSU: Predictions for Friday's Game

After a wild weekend filled with upsets, many college football fans are now wondering just how wild things will get in the final two weeks of the regular season.

With Oklahoma State, Oregon and Oklahoma all falling in Week 12, it now appears that a rematch of the “Game of the Century” between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama is the most likely scenario for the BCS national championship game.

All season long, the Tigers and the Tide have looked like the two best teams in the country, but there are some people out there who are turned off by the idea of watching another defensive struggle on the sport’s biggest stage—especially after the Tigers proved that they were the better team back on Nov. 5.

What could potentially throw a wrench into that potential championship game pairing is if No. 3 Arkansas beats LSU on Friday.

We saw it happen back in 2007, when Darren McFadden and the Razorbacks stunned the Tigers on their home field—but as it turned out, that loss wasn’t enough to keep them out of the championship game, and LSU ultimately went on to win the national title that year.

The question is, can Arkansas pull off another stunner this year?

We’ll find out on Friday, but until then, here are my five predictions for the big SEC West showdown.

1. Tyler Wilson Will Be Held to Fewer Than 250 Passing Yards

Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson has been one of the breakout performers of the 2011 season, as he's stepped in as the starter after the early departure of Ryan Mallett.

Wilson has already established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC, throwing for 3,215 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and leading the Razorbacks to a 10-1 record and a No. 3 national ranking.

Wilson has only been held under 250 passing yards three times this year, but the only other secondary that he’s faced that can compare to LSU’s is Alabama’s, and that turned out to be his worst game of the season—he threw for just 185 yards.

Wilson could struggle again against a talented LSU secondary, which is led by three players who are future first-round NFL draft picks—cornerbacks Mo Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu and safety Eric Reid.

2. Arkansas Won’t Be Able To Run the Ball

Arkansas has missed star running back Knile Davis, who went down for the season back in August.

Davis, who was the SEC’s leading returning rusher, would have added some diversity to the Arkansas offense. Without him, the Razorbacks are only averaging 146 yards on the ground per game, which ranks 73rd in the country.

Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. are going to have to step it up, because that LSU defensive front seven is a force to be reckoned with.

3. Either Joe Adams or Jarius Wright Will Make One Highlight-Reel Play

Besides Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Baylor’s Kendall Wright, there’s not a senior receiver who I would rather draft than Arkansas’ Joe Adams.

Adams has got everything you’re looking for in a receiving prospect, and he’s shown a knack for making some pretty spectacular plays during his career.

Adams and fellow receiver Jarius Wright will definitely test the LSU secondary on every snap, and it will be interesting to see if they can find enough space to create a big play at some point in the game.

4. Turnovers Will Play an Important Role

I’ll say it now—whichever team wins the turnover battle will win this game.

Ball security is at a premium in these kinds of matchups, and one big interception or fumble can really swing the momentum of the game in either direction.

Arkansas can’t afford to be giving the ball away, especially against this type of defense.

On the other side, though, you’ve got Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson, two quarterbacks who have thrown a couple killer picks in their careers.

If Lee or Jefferson throws a crucial interception, it will really open the door for Arkansas to capitalize.

5. There Will Be No Upset

I expect Arkansas to come out fighting on Friday, but when push comes to shove, LSU is just the more talented and balanced team, and that will show during the game.

The Tigers are playing with the type of attitude and swagger that no other team can touch right now, and with the big prize in sight, it’s hard to see them taking their foot off the gas pedal now, after all that they’ve been through this year.

Final Prediction: LSU 33, Arkansas 24