Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the top team in the nation right now — although highly disputed because of the Oregon Ducks‘ surge — and it’s hard to think otherwise seeing as they have won two straight national titles and have a 6-0 record through seven weeks in 2013. With a favorable schedule remaining, the Crimson Tide will have one or two tough tests left in their way of an unbeaten season.
On the other side of the field, the Arkansas Razorbacks are the epitome of a struggling team. They have lost four straight games after starting the season 3-0 behind the new head coach Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks are searching for answers and a way to stop the bleeding, but this is the wrong week for that.
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Alabama is led by a Heisman contending quarterback and one of the best leaders in the nation. AJ McCarron is one of the top quarterbacks out there and the guy has led the Crimson Tide to two straight national titles. He has been solid this season for an offense that just hasn’t been quite the same since losing Eddie Lacy, passing for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions while completing over 68 percent of his passes. He hasn’t had a clear-cut favorite receiver this season as Amari Cooper is having a bit of a sophomore slump. T.J. Yeldon leads the run game with 569 yards and six touchdowns.
Arkansas has been seen a bit of a quarterback competition between Brandon Allen and AJ Derby, but the team looks like it will likely go with Allen. However, they could lean the other way as Allen has struggled tremendously this season, completing just 48 percent of his passes for 864 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Good thing for the Razorbacks: they have one of the top run offenses in the nation. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams are big reasons for that success with a combined 1,284 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Razorbacks have allowed 27.6 points per game while allowing 367.7 yards per game — ranking 72nd and 44th in the nation, respectively. Alabama ranks second in he country in points allowed per game while ranking eighth in the nation in yards allowed per game.
Arkansas will travel to Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, Oct. 19. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
PREDICTION: Arkansas 10, Alabama 42
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Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
