The No. 21 Arkansas football team travels to No. 2 Alabama for a clash between SEC-West behemoths.
Alabama firmly controls the all-time series record agains the Hogs, with a record of 21-8, according to Winsipedia. Arkansas is 3-11 all-time in Tuscaloosa.
Are the Hogs healthy enough and talented enough to beat the Crimson Tide for the first time since the George W. Bush administration (2007)?
The Razorbacks will need some career-best type performances from a few players and execute Coach Sam Pittman’s game plan perfectly, but it’s possible. Texas A&M defeated Alabama and the Hogs got a big win over Texas A&M early in the season.
Here are three keys the Razorbacks need to aim for if they are to knock off one of the best teams in the country.
No 1. Arkansas football needs to win the first quarter
Where Alabama struggled, the Arkansas football team excelled. As previously mentioned, the Hogs knocked off the Texas A&M Aggies earlier in the season— something Alabama was unable to do.
The Razorbacks took care of rival LSU— a team Alabama struggled against this season. What sort of commonality lies between these teams and Alabama? How were they able to keep it close, competitive or prevail?
Make them play from behind.
In the game against TAMU, the Crimson Tide never saw as much as one second of game time in which they had the lead. They had to play from behind the entire game.
Against LSU, the Tigers got off to a quick, early lead in the first quarter and held that lead for most of the first half. Obviously, LSU is having a down-year in terms of record and talent, but they put pressure on Alabama by making them play from behind.
If the Hogs can jump out to a early lead and hold that lead in the first quarter, it’ll start to put some pressure on the Tide and force them to make adjustments.