Arkansas to measure its progress against new-look Alabama

This season is no different, and Alabama’s 17-game winning streak is now the longest in the nation and the second longest under Saban – trailing only a 19-game stretch over the 2009-10 seasons.

The top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Fayetteville to take on the 16th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in a very important SEC west match up.

Alabama’s a 14-point favorite, and Arkansas doesn’t play the kind of football that gives Nick Saban’s defense fits, but they have always been able to play them close. That’s when Alabama overcame a 24-3 deficit and a late charge to edge No. 14 MS snare a 48-43 and end a two-year losing streak to the Rebels.

This year the Razorbacks look to be one of the few teams that can compete with Alabama physically.

“Great players play great in big games”, Enos said. Without him, we can’t make our calls, the quarterback can’t read the front and things like that.

The key may be Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen, who is passing for an average of almost 250 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. “Now what?’ That’s the saying that we have”, center Bradley Bozeman said. “They are very well coached”.

With its 52-10 triumph over Alcorn State last week, Arkansas has won 10 of its last 12 games.

Alabama sits second in the SEC West standings behind Texas A&M, while Arkansas is now at the bottom of this standings after one conference outing. Bozeman graded out at 86 percent against the Razorbacks and led the team with three knockdown blocks in a 14-13 victory for the Tide.

Arkansas has struggled against mobile quarterbacks like Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight, who ran for 157 yards and two long touchdowns. Most of the damage on the stat sheet for Arkansas’ defense came against TCU and Texas A&M.

Alabama’s defense has scored five touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide is 8-2 against the spread in its last eight games versus an opponent that owns a winning record entering the game.

“We’d love to have him with us, but we understand if he’s not”, Bielema said. Looking back at the game, that’s what I remember the most, and it stinks that that’s what you remember from a good game like that.

But it’s not just his rushing ability that makes the Tide so explosive. In addition to containing Hurts on the ground, Arkansas’ secondary will be tested by the deep Alabama receiving corps. I think if I hit those three, we win the game and we’re probably in the SEC Championship game.

“He’s a very instinctive guy in just about all aspects of how he plays and what he does”. Freshmen Riley Ridley (two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown) and Isaac Nauta (five for 83 and a touchdown) were two of Jacob Eason’s top targets against Tennessee last week.

Sprinkle is sharing the stage with Alabama senior O.J. Howard, the nation’s top-rated tight end by most NFL Draft analysts. “Jeremy Sprinkle is one of our best players”. “He has bigger things to worry about than Alabama”.

There is such a thing as being too hyped up.

“I don’t think it’s any extra pressure”, Allen said.

Sports headlines from Albany Herald.

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