Arkansas Mississippi State Betting – Hogs And Bulldogs Battle For Bowl Positioning
The Arkansas Razorbacks and Mississippi State Bulldogs can’t win the SEC West, but they can win as many games as possible and earn a solid upper-level bowl bid this weekend.
NCAA football betting: Arkansas Razorbacks @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
Online Betting Odds: Arkansas -3
Why To Bet On Arkansas
The Razorbacks are simply a very good team. Arkansas’ only losses this year came against the defending national champion – Alabama Crimson Tide – and the Auburn team that could possibly be this year’s national champion (or at the very least, this year’s SEC representative in the national championship game). Quarterback Ryan Mallett is a future NFL gunslinger, and even without star receiver Greg Childs, he still smoked South Carolina by a 41-20 score on Nov. 6. Arkansas is playing with great rhythm, fluidity and confidence on the offensive side of the ball, and it’s going to take a great opposing offense to take down the Hogs. Coach Bobby Petrino is one of the very best play callers in all of college football, and Mississippi State’s defense is going to have a very hard time keeping Arkansas under 30 points this weekend.
It’s also worth noting that Mississippi State – though owning seven wins on the season – is only just beginning to face the toughest part of its schedule in 2010. The Bulldogs started with a 7-2 mark, but MSU lost to the toughest opponents in its division, the LSU Tigers and Auburn Tigers. Last weekend, Mississippi State then encountered Alabama and got smacked by a 30-10 score. One has to doubt the Bulldogs as they work toward the regular-season finish line. Arkansas is a far more proven team with heavier-grade artillery on the offensive side of the ball.
Why To Bet On Mississippi State
First of all, this game is going to be played in Starkville, Mississippi, on the MSU campus. When Mississippi State played LSU and Alabama and lost by at least 20 points in each matchup, those games occurred on the road. By contrast, MSU lost to Auburn by only three points at home. The Bulldogs are clearly the only team that slowed down Cameron Newton this season, so Mississippi State – guided by defensive coordinator Manny Diaz – certainly has a legitimate chance to contain Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas passing game. As is the case with a number of other teams across America (the California Golden Bears being one very prominent example), Mississippi State’s home and road identities are very different. If this game had been scheduled for Fayetteville, Arkansas, MSU would have very little chance. At home, however, the Bulldogs and head coach Dan Mullen can gear up for the Hogs and potentially rattle their guests on Saturday. The SEC West is much better than the SEC East this year, which means that Arkansas – a winner of road games against East Division foes Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks– might not find smooth sailing in this SEC West clash.
How The Game Will Play Out
Arkansas has too many weapons, and more importantly, Mississippi State’s offense is averaging under 15 points per game against SEC opponents. MSU must score at least 27 points to have a good chance of winning. Arkansas might struggle, but the Hogs should still prevail and, in all likelihood, cover the number. Arkansas might win by only a field goal, but the percentage play is to take the Razorbacks in this contest.
Arkansas Mississippi State Betting Pick: Arkansas
