by the bookies. Arky has so much more talent than Bammer. This game has a weird feel to it. I'm thinking blowout for the hogs. Toughest game to pick this week. Hope everybody has a great weekend! lefire: sucks monkey nuts 1963?:rofl:
There are two units on Arkansas that I think are better than what Bama fields. RB's- Best combo in the SEC, one of the best in the NCAA. Then when you look at their FB, not to mention the back-up off the bench, it's a great group. DL- We've got some starters who are as good as anything Arkansas field, and this advantage goes to the experienced depth more so than the starting rotation. LB's- is a close group comparing one team to the other. Just like Bama, they aren't returning a starting group. Just one starter from last year in the middle. I give a slight advantage to Alabama in this game simply because it appears that Ezekial Knight is just hitting his stride. As to the rest of the units, the advantage is Alabama in everyone of them. QB, WR, OL, DB's, and ST's. I've look at this game from as an objective stand point as a fan can. I don't see how one could say Arkansas should win because they have better talent. Could you be a bit more specific?
Let's talk about sports betting and point spreads. The point spread on a game has nothing directly to do with team abilities. It has everything to do with keeping the bets on the 2 teams even. For example, if more money is bet on Arkansas than Alabama, then the people taking bets would up the point spread to get more people to bet on Alabama, making it appear Arkansas to be the "favorite." When the bets for and against are even, the people taking bets could care less who wins. They pay the winners 90 percent of the losers' bets and pocket the remaining 10 percent for themselves. The more money is bet, the more money is made. That is capitalism at its best!!! God bless America and the LSU Tigers!!!!
Even with home field advantage, I to find it hard to believe Bama is favored. Of course, part of the point you are making is backwards. I think Vegas wants you to take the Hogs.
I've said this many times, but comparing units to each other serves no purpose. You have to look at it as their offense vs your defense & vice versa. I haven't seen much of Bama or Arkansas yet this year, so some of what I'm saying is based on guesses, and some of it is based on what I've read. Feel free to comment. Arkansas' passing game is poor, your DBs have an advantage here, but they won't try to pass much anyway. Arkansas' OLine & running game should handle your DLine & LBs well. Alabama's offense is looking pretty good so far this season, and it should be able to put up some points and maintain a steady running game, but Arkansas' defense is good enough to contain it. Overall, I see Arkansas' defense being just good enough to keep your offense from putting up too many points, while McFadden & Jones bring a steady enough attack on offense to wear down Bama's defense & win it in the 4th quarter.
I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on this game and may even DVR it since both are future LSU victims later in the season. If I had to bet this game, I'd go with the Arky and the points. Bama will be solid but not spectacular, while Arky has the playmakers. It may well come down to TO's and/or coaching brain farts.
That's one of the two scenario's on how this game will work itself out. It very well may come down to who has the ball last. Both teams, will likely come out in a ball control offense. The return of Harrison on their DL will help the Arkansas DL, no doubt. When I look at the OL vs their DL I see the advantage swinging our way. Not only in terms of experience, but in terms of how this unit has improved over the course of spring and fall camps, and the last two games. I suspect we'll see Grant with another 100 yard game. When I looked at the Arkansas reviews on the game the first week and saw they gave up over 160 yards it makes this look like a game we can run the ball, and run it at will. The difference in why I see Bama winning this one has to do with the secondary of Arkansas. In fact, let's call this the back seven. Their DB's were suspect to begin with. Even though they return 3 of the four, if their corners are in man coverage they simply can't match up with the speed Bama has in the WR corps. Then, when we bring the LB's in, the MLB is a returning starters but the OLB's have only started vs Troy. Again, they can't match up with the speed, especially when we line up the WR's in the slot and go across the middle. A number that just stares me in the face is the yards given up to Troy in the air. Over 200. There is no doubt that McFadden, Jones, Smith and Hillis are a combination we won't be able to stop. No one can. But, I think we'll be able to hold them to under 200 yards making Casey Dick throw the ball. Again, I see that as our advantage because their WR group doesn't match up against our DB's. Along with that, if our NG/DT's can at least take up 3 of the 5 OL allowing our ILB's to do their job that number is achievable. I don't pay attn. to the spreads that closely. Using the term favored here isn't inaccurate either when you look around the nation as see how the writers and talking heads are leaning to Bama. Most of them see the game the same way I do, as far as the end result. I doubt they've looked at it as closely though...that would be a huge change of pace for them. :lol:
