No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks (3-0) at No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0)
Saturday September 24, 2011
One of the top matchups of this weekend for sure is Arkansas at Alabama. Both teams are in the SEC West and looking to take control of this division and conference. Alabama is 12 point home favorites. Both teams have a monster offense and have put up the numbers this year. The teams matchup up very well but the marked advantage comes from a swarming Bama' defense. Arkansas' defense are no chumps either. Many feel this is the best defense they have put together in recent years.
Last season Arkansas was up by two touchdowns in this matchup but couldn't put Alabama away and lost the game. Plus Arkansas could not run the ball last season at all against Bama'. They only managed 64 yards on 20 carries.
This one features Arkansas� offense, which leads the SEC in scoring offense (47.0), passing offense (346.7) and total offense (517.3) and Alabama�s defense, which leads the conference in scoring defense (6.0), pass defense (114.7) and total defense (170.0).
This is the SEC opener for both teams and we have to mention Alabama's impressive 53-21-3 (.708) on-the-field record in Southeastern Conference openers dating back to the league�s inception in 1933.
As far as betting this game it is a really tough call. The Crimson Tide of Alabama are truly one of the better teams in the country (if not the best) and playing at home. Arkansas is no slouch and would give any team in the country a run for their money. 12 points seems a little high but that is to account for the huge betting public that Alabama has. The line should be 10 in all reality so we are leaning toward seeing value in taking Arkansas here.
Either way this game goes you will be able to gain a lot of betting knowledge from it to judge future matchups by. This game has the S.E.C. fanatics watering at the mouth for sure. One last note to consider: Since 2008, Alabama is a perfect 15-0 in September games. them along and they should have a chance at the conference title and who knows, maybe a national title as well.
