Arkansas vs. LSU: Breaking Down the Tigers Win over the Razorbacks

Those that were penciling in the LSU Tigers in the national championship can officially put it in ink. The  Tigers' 41-17 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks pretty much secures them a spot in the big game regardless of what happens next week.

The win also gives the Tigers the SEC West division and earns them a spot in the SEC Championship next weekend against the Georgia Bulldogs.

This matchup was hyped up as the game of the week, but as you can tell by the score, it failed to live up to expectations.

Here are a few reasons why the Tigers were able to dominate the Razorbacks.

Running Game

We knew the Razorbacks struggled to stop the running game, and the Tigers excelled at running the football, but this matchup got out of hand.

LSU averaged 6.2 yards per carry on the ground and racked up a total of 285 rushing yards.

Three of their five touchdowns came on the ground as well, including a 48-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Jefferson which sealed the victory.

Special Teams

Kicker Drew Alleman made both of his field goals in this game, but the big game-changing play came in the second quarter. The Razorbacks were up 14-7 when Tyrann Mathieu returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown.

This not only tied the game for the Tigers but woke the team and the crowd up as they started the game very slow.

Once this play happened, you knew the Razorbacks had to respond, but they failed to do so.

Pressure on Tyler Wilson

There's a reason the Tigers have the best defense in the country, and a lot of it is because of the relentless pressure they're able to get on the opposing quarterbacks. Wilson constantly had defenders in his face and took several big shots throughout the game. 

The defensive line was also able to hold the Razorbacks to just 42 yards rushing which made things even more difficult for Wilson.

3rd-Down Efficiency

The Tigers converted on 9-of-14 third-down opportunities which is a ridiculous conversion rate. Five of those third-down conversions happened on drives that resulted in 20 of the Tigers' 41 points.

The Razorbacks defense wasn't able to get off the field, and that played a big part in the reason they lost.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]