OFFENSE
Quarterback
ARKANSAS
Brandon Allen is 26th nationally with an average of 272 passing yards per game and 66 percent completions (93 of 141), and 15th in passing efficiency. He held in the pocket well and produced a few big plays with patience and throws on the run last week. Accuracy while throwing into the end zone continues to be a problem.
ALABAMA
Senior Jake Coker (79 of 139, 976 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT) finally edged out sophomore Cooper Bateman for Alabama’s starting job after the loss to Ole Miss. Coker ranks eighth in the SEC with 195.2 passing yards per game and 10th in pass efficiency. Bateman has completed 75 percent of his passes to Coker’s 56.8 percent.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Running back
ARKANSAS
Alex Collins is third in the SEC, 11th nationally with an average of 131.2 rushing yards per game, and he has three 150-yard games in a row. He averages 5.8 yards per carry and is riding a five-game streak with a rushing touchdown. Rawleigh Williams (47-226, 1 TD) is coming off his first 100-yard game. Kody Walker (right hand) might be back.
ALABAMA
Derrick Henry (93-570, 9) plowed for a career-best 148 yards at Georgia last week. He’s 24th nationally with 114 yards per game. There’s been less traction for speedster Kenyan Drake (43-215, 1), who is averaging 5 yards per carry and had no yards on six attempts last week.
ADVANTAGE Even
Receivers/Tight ends
ARKANSAS
Drew Morgan (23-413, 3 TD) is the first Hog with consecutive 100-yard games since Cobi Hamilton in 2012. Hunter Henry (20-268, 1) and Jeremy Sprinkle (6-91) have been kind of quiet lately. Dominique Reed (3-42, 1) flashed his speed a week ago. Jojo Robinson (5-38) and Kendrick Edwards (3-45) have to be more precise.
ALABAMA
Freshman Calvin Ridley (22-245, 2) has taken over the lead role, followed by Richard Mullaney (15-160, 2) after injuries to Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart. The Tide will look to tight end O.J. Howard (13-183) over the middle.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Line
ARKANSAS
Arkansas’ brawn has come into play the past three games, with Denver Kirkland, Frank Ragnow, Dan Skipper and Mitch Smothers paving the way for averages of 245 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry. The Hogs have allowed two sacks.
ALABAMA
Center Ryan Kelly and massive left tackle Cam Robinson, 6-6, 326, are the stars on Alabama’s front. Freshman Ross Pierschbacher is the starting left guard, while Alphonse Taylor and Dominick Jackson man the right side. The Tide ranks 37th nationally in total offense and has allowed five sacks.
ADVANTAGE Even
DEFENSE
Line
ARKANSAS
End Tevin Beanum (15, 1.5 sacks) is coming off a big game and end Jeremiah Ledbetter (27, 4 TFL) has been solid. JaMichael Winston (8, 1 TFL) is back in his home state. DeMarcus Hodge (11, 31/2, 1) and Taiwan Johnson (5) start at tackle, and Deatrich Wise (7, 21/2 TFL), Mitchell Loewen (7) and Karl Roessler (6, 21/2, 1 sack) factor in.
ALABAMA
Jarran Reed (28, 2 TFL, 1 sack) and A’Shawn Robinson (14, 1 TFL) are big and hard to move at end on the three-man front. Darren Lake (3) starts at nose guard. The Tide rotate all game long, with Dalvin Tomlinson (12, 5 PBU), Jonathan Allen (9, 3 sacks) and D.J. Pettway (10, 3 TFL, 1 sack) all productive.
ADVANTAGE Alabama
Linebackers
ARKANSAS
Arkansas lost Josh Williams to a broken leg, meaning Brooks Ellis (34, 2 TFL), Dre Greenlaw (29, 2 TFL) and Dwayne Eugene (5) will take heavy reps, with Khalia Hackett (10, 2 hurries) next.
ALABAMA
Reggie Ragland (42, 1 TFL) is a 252-pound smasher in the middle. Reuben Foster (21, 2 TFL), Denzel Devall (13, 3 TFL) and Dillon Lee (8) are the other starters, with good depth behind them.
ADVANTAGE Alabama
Secondary
ARKANSAS
The Hogs were better in coverage last week but they are still 106th nationally in pass efficiency defense. Safety Rohan Gaines (26) is coming on strong working beside Santos Ramirez (18) and Josh Liddell (13). Jared Collins (14, 1 INT) has played well with a cast. Henre Toliver (24, 4 TFL, 1 INT) and D.J. Dean (12, 1 INT) rebounded.
ALABAMA
The Tide are 10th nationally in pass efficiency defense. Corner Marlon Humphrey (19, 2 PBU, 1 INT) is an emerging star opposite veteran Cyrus Jones (10, 3 PBU). The starting safeties are Geno Matias-Smith (23, 1 INT) and Eddie Jackson (19, 2 INT), who was out-run by AJ Derby last year.
ADVANTAGE Alabama
Special teams
ARKANSAS
Arkansas had a kicking game circus last week with a blocked field goal, a stymied fake field goal and a kickoff return touchdown allowed. Jojo Robinson hasn’t been able to find a seam as the lead kick returner. The punt return unit could be special if it could avoid illegal blocks. Kickoffs haven’t been deep.
ALABAMA
Alabama punter JK Scott (39.4) has come down a notch after a stellar freshman season. Adam Griffith has made four consecutive field goals after missing his first four. Kickoff returns have been sub-par. The Tide’s kick block unit, which got one last year at Arkansas, will be eager to try again.
ADVANTAGE Alabama
Intangibles
ARKANSAS
Arkansas, back on track after losing a couple of games it shouldn’t have, will have its injury depleted depth tested. The Razorbacks cannot afford the same special teams mistakes of last week. Arkansas is eager to leave a better impression than the 52-0 loss it endured here two years ago.
ALABAMA
Alabama should be brimming with confidence back at home after routing Georgia. Coach Nick Saban gave his team an extra oomph by claiming the media “buried” Alabama. The Tide’s formula of running effectively, stopping the run and controlling the clock is much like that of Arkansas, and the Tide have the advantage of 102,000 fans.
ADVANTAGE Alabama