LSU in tough on the road at Arkansas
The number five ranked Louisiana State University Tigers (LSU) will be finishing their season against the no. 12 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks up in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday 27 November. LSU does not have an opportunity at the South Eastern
Conference (SEC) title game, but can still manage a high bowl bid with a victory.
Arkansas previous games
The Razorbacks opened their season with a three-game winning streak with victories over Tennessee Tech, University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) and Georgia. However, the streak vanished just as quickly as it began when the Razorbacks lost to former number
one Alabama.
Arkansas quickly rebounded with a 24-17 victory over Texas A&M but fell the following week to still-undefeated and first-place in the SEC Auburn, 65-43.
Since the loss to Auburn, Arkansas has been on fire, winning all five of their games leading up to this finale against LSU, including victories against Mississippi (Ole Miss), Vanderbilt, former no. 19 South Carolina, University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) and
last week’s overtime victory over Mississippi State, 38-31.
Arkansas sits in fourth place in the SEC west division with an overall record of 9-2 and 5-2 in the SEC and is eligible for a bowl bid. Which bowl has yet to be determined.
LSU’s season so far
The Tigers began their season with high expectations which were realized with their seven-game winning streak to open the season. North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and McNeese State all fell victim to
LSU’s powerful rushing offence.
The Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season against Auburn but managed to rebound against SEC rival Alabama the following week, and have since have not lost a game with victories over ULM and last weekend’s win over Ole Miss.
As mentioned earlier, LSU does not have an opportunity to win the SEC championship, but a victory puts them in prime position to be invited to either the Cotton or Sugar Bowl.
Arkansas keys to victory
The Razorbacks are fighting for the highest bowl bid possible, and a victory over LSU would vault them ahead of the Tigers. Quarterback Ryan Mallett has led his third ranked passing offence to victory over the past five weeks, throwing for 196, 409,
303, 215, and 305 yards in the respective victories. There is no slowing his aerial assault even though the Tigers rank first in the SEC in passing yards allowed.
If Mallett finds the air game is not working, he can always go to his 66th ranked running game in which Knile Davis is the main man. His 148 touches for 1031 yards and 12 touchdowns leads the Razorbacks ground game and he will have to be a performer
on this day to give the offence a multi-threat look.
LSU’s keys to victory
The Tigers need quarterback Jordan Jefferson to have the game of his life and will need to increase his passing accuracy from a pedestrian 56.4%. The offence already has a one dimensional look to it as Jefferson only attempted 17 passes in their victory
last weekend against Ole Miss. This weekend, he will need the aerial assault to get some momentum to take the pressure off his running back Stevan Ridley.
Ridley has accumulated 967 yards on 208 touches and 12 touchdowns. He will have to be a force on Saturday, and will need to be effective in the play-action department.
Prediction
Arkansas has a balanced offence, better than LSU’s, and watch for them to clog up the running lanes early and force Jefferson to the air.
Arkansas 27 – LSU 24
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