Arkansas has already picked up two convincing wins against ranked opponents, almost doubling up then-#15 Texas, 40-21, in Week 2, and shutting down then-#7 Texas A&M on a neutral field a week ago. Their other games have included routs of Rice and Georgia Southern. We’ll find out if the Razorbacks are the real deal as national contenders on Saturday, as they head to Georgia. After winning a defensive duel with Clemson in the opener, Georgia has steamrolled UAB, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, giving up a combined 20 points in those contests. What can the Razorbacks pull off? We’ll see.
Don’t miss our college football betting preview of what could be an SEC classic.
NCAAF Preview: #8 Arkansas at #2 Georgia (Saturday, October 2)
When: Saturday, October 2, 2021, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
TV: ESPN
Radio: Razorback Sports Network / Georgia Bulldog Sports Network
Live Stream: Hulu
NCAAF Odds: Georgia -18.5 / O/U 48.5
Why should you bet on the Razorbacks?
Arkansas has its issues, but the offense can run the ball well, and they can hit big passes down the field. On defense, they get takeaways, and they can shut down the opposition on third down. Georgia has coughed up the ball seven times in four games, so if Arkansas can swipe the ball and turn it into points, that could give them the edge in a game that could turn into a series of defensive stops. Arkansas has not permitted more than 255 yards in their last three games, and while Georgia’s offense has been prolific since Week 1, this is the best defense they have faced since they beat Clemson.
Expect quarterback K.J. Jefferson to hit at least one big play down the field, and that should stretch the Georgia defense just enough to allow Arkansas a few sustained drives. Georgia’s secondary is elite, but Arkansas should get well into double digits, if not 20 points.
Why should you put your money on the Bulldogs?
Georgia has permitted a total of 23 points in four games. That includes Clemson, two SEC schools and UAB — who has a good shot of winning Conference USA. In the last three games, Georgia has scored 158 points and picked up over 1,500 yards. The key is the offensive line, which puts up a wall behind which J.T. Daniels and Stetson Bennett have time to see down the field. That has led to a completion percentage of almost 75 percent combined, with 11 touchdown passes.
Arkansas has issues with penalties, as well as with converting third downs. Also, in special teams, Georgia will have an edge because their return game is more productive, so if the teams start trading punts, Georgia should slowly build an edge in terms of field position and eventually get a short field off a punt and capitalize. J.T. Daniels is a better quarterback than anyone Arkansas has faced so far this season, and he should be able to find open receivers against the Arkansas secondary.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
I’d like to believe that Arkansas can keep the upset string going, but Georgia’s defense is better than any unit that the Razorbacks have faced this year. This is a fairly big point spread, driven no doubt by the 62-point beatdown that Georgia brought down on Vanderbilt last week. However, Texas A&M’s defense is rock solid, and while Georgia has put up big points three weeks in a row, Arkansas’ defense is the best Georgia will have seen since the opener. The Razorbacks will keep this game closer than the point spread, but I’m not sure I see them pulling off the upset straight up. I predict a final score of Georgia 27, Arkansas 16.
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