The Razorbacks are heading to their home away from the Natural State. The Liberty Bowl and Arkansas have been bedfellows for the last 15 years, with the Hogs making the postseason trip to Memphis four times and winning all of them.
This time is different as the Arkansas will play the team that actually calls it home: the Memphis Tigers.
Memphis has been one of the better G5 teams in the country, and they hold the all-time record over Arkansas, 3-2. Can Arkansas even up the series? Here, we'll preview the matchup and give our predictions.
Arkansas vs Memphis: Razorbackers' staff reaction
Pat
The Memphis Tigers pose a serious challenge which could derail the narrative that Arkansas’ one-score loss at Ole Miss to a top-15 ranked team is nothing to be overly concerned about. A loss across the Mississippi River in Pittman’s favorite postseason destination spot would only pour more fuel to the fire kindled by Hunter Yurachek’s recent comments to the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
It’s not like Sam Pittman’s hotseat wasn’t warm enough coming into the season, but now going into week four, the flames have leapt to the seats under Yurachek’s and defensive coordinator Travis Williams as well. If William’s back-to-basics approach proves enough to get things back on track, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s offense should blow the doors off Memphis from a third lane.
It also helps that Memphis is close enough that all-too-often Razorback fans forgotten along the Delta get an opportunity to do an intervention this week. They will show up and show out in the Liberty Bowl Saturday morning with no complaints. In fact, they will bring enough Razorbacker enthusiasm that any home field advantage the Tigers may be counting on will get nullified.
Let’s just hope Pittman and Yurachek remember their contributions when they finally return to Northwest Arkansas for a decisive home stand. Yurachek said his football Razorbacks are built to compete in the SEC — just not a national championship — and they proved both last week. Saturday they just need to prove Memphis is not built to compete in the SEC, and sort the rest out later.
Arkansas 30 – Memphis 24
Antonio
According to ESPN BET Sportsbook, the Razorbacks are 7.5-point favorites to defeat the Memphis Tigers on the road, and ESPN Analytics gives the Hogs a 59.7% chance to win the game. Although ESPN is wise to characterize Arkansas as the favorite to win the game, the Hogs are still being undervalued. If it weren’t for a late fumble on the final drive of last week’s game, the Razorbacks would’ve beaten No. 13 Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi. Therefore, predicting a close game in this contest doesn’t seem reasonable.
Even though the Razorbacks’ defense struggled mightily against the Rebels, the Tigers’ offense hasn’t played against a defense with the talent the Hogs have. Expect Travis Williams’ defense to show some crucial improvements to limit what Memphis wishes to do offensively.
Bobby Petrino’s offense is too much for the Tigers’ defense. Taylen Green will have another excellent game. This game will not be competitive for long.
Arkansas 48 – Memphis 27
Jackson
I have the feeling that Memphis is going to steal this game from Arkansas. It is going to be a high-scoring affair, and the Razorback defense is going to suffer if changes are not made this week. I think QB Taylen Green is still going to have a good game, and the offense is going to perform extremely well. However, I look at the Tigers as the stronger team and one of the best non-Power 4 teams in the nation. If the Hogs can somehow pull off a win at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, it could be the turning point that puts their season back on track after last week’s loss to Ole Miss.
Arkansas 34 – Memphis 38
Austin
Arkansas' loss to Ole Miss felt like a huge missed opportunity. Looking back at last season, it showed shades of the Razorbacks' loss to Oklahoma State, although the Rebels are likely a much better team than last year’s Cowboys.
Nevertheless, that makes this game against Memphis all the more important. For all intents and purposes, today is a must-win.
The tigers have a decent running game, which lines up well with Arkansas’s defensive strength. Last week, they held Kewan Lacy and Trinidad Chambless — who was known as a running quarterback in Division II — to 106 yards.
Memphis would also have to find an answer to Taylen Green. After being the first player in Arkansas history to throw 300 yards and run 100 yards in a single game, Green may be eyeing a Heisman Trophy run if he can keep up the pace against the Tigers.
If the Razorbacks can hold everything in front of them in the passing game, Arkansas should win this game relatively easily.
Arkansas 45 – Memphis 35
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