Arkansas Razorbacks linebackers on being able to bounce back after losing game against Alabama on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
Razorbacks’ Dalton Wagner, Raheim Sanders after loss to Alabama
Arkansas offensive tackle Dalton Wagner and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders’ complete press conference after a 49-26 loss to Alabama.
LIVE BLOG: Crimson Tide rolls over Hogs in fourth quarter
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The weather is perfect and what is promising to be a large and rowdy crowd is ready.
No. 20 Arkansas faces No. 2 Alabama today at 2:30 p.m. on CBS and hopes are high among the Razorback fans.
In case you had hopes, the Crimson Tide made it to the stadium on time, avoiding the wreck earlier today in the Bobby Hopper Tunnel that backed things up for awhile.
The biggest question facing the Hogs is if they can shake a surprising 23-21 loss to Texas A&M last week with Cam Little’s 41-yard field goal bouncing off the top of the right upright.
You can listen online at HitThatLine.com. You can listen on the radio with ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Follow the game on our live blog below:
First Quarter
1Q 7:41: The Hogs haven’t stopped Bryce Young and the Alabama offense yet, although he did throw an interception to Dwight McGlothern on the opening drive of the game. The Tide stopped the Hogs and got the ball back, driving 65 yards in six plays with Young throwing to Kobe Prentice on a crossing route for a 47-yard score. Alabama 7, Hogs 0
1Q 2:35: Alabama is still rolling through the Hogs’ defense almost at will. Young throws a 47-yard completion down the middle to Isaiah Bond who ran out of the same zip code as Myles Slusher and the 10-yard line tripped him up. Young then walked untouched around the left side for a score. Alabama 14, Hogs 0
End First: Alabama driving. The Crimson Tide had 217 yards in total offense compared to the Hogs’ 52. They are picking the Hogs’ secondary apart, 173 yards to just 4 for Arkansas. The quarter ends with the Tide on the Hogs’ 35.
Second Quarter
2Q 13:16: The Hogs’ defense finally gets a big play as Alabama transfer Drew Sanders chases down Young to stop him on third-and-long, then Will Reichard’s 53-yard field goal attempt is slightly wide right, but no further damage was done. Alabama 14, Hogs 0.
2Q 8:29: Now Alabama makes a big play on special teams with Kool-Aid McKinstry returning Max Fletcher’s 51-yard punt 45 yards and the Tide scoring three plays later on a 3-yard run by backup quarterback Jalen Milroe over the left side. There wasn’t a Razorback within 5 yards of McKinstry when he caught the punt that had enough hang time, but simply wasn’t covered. Alabama 21, Hogs 0.
2Q 2:51: Hogs’ offense still struggling and with Milroe subbing for Young, who probably won’t be back in after landing on his arm, then grabbing it doesn’t appear to matter to the Tide. On third-and-long, a little pass in the flat to JoJo Earle goes for a 22-yard score and this is turning into a blowout. Alabama 28, Hogs 0.
2Q :21: Arkansas finally gets offense untracked at end of the half, driving 75 yards in nine players with KJ Jefferson hitting Ketron Jackson in the end zone for a 6-yard score. Alabama 28, Hogs 7.
End Half
Third Quarter
3Q 7:47: Hogs starting to show proof of life, finally stringing together a solid drive, going 78 yards seven plays with AJ Green getting the final 13 over the left side. Alabama 28, Hogs 14.
3Q 1:38: After an onside kick that Jake Bates recovered (catching the Crimson Tide completely off guard), Jefferson directs a 12-play, 50-yard drive that stalls on the 10-yard line setting up a Cam Little 22-yard field goal. It drew boos from the crowd but was the right call. It’s almost like stealing three points that could be huge later. Alabama 28, Hogs 17.
3Q :19: Alabama falling apart. A bad snap on a punt set up the Hogs’ offense on the Crimson Tide’s 4-yard line. Sanders took it into the end zone over the left side and, suddenly in the third quarter, it’s going to be game in the final period. Hogs go for a 2-point conversion and Jefferson’s run up the middle comes up a yard short. Alabama 28, Hogs 23
Fourth Quarter
4Q 14:09: On second down, Milroe showed he’s got some wheels running up the middle, then breaking to the right sideline for a 77-yard gain and Crimson Tide running back Jase McClellan ran it in from the 3. Hogs have to respond … quickly. Alabama 35, Hogs 23.
4Q 12:17: That didn’t take long to turn around the Hogs’ defensive depth may be starting to show as Crimson Tider running back Jahmyr Gibbs on first down goes up the middle, breaks to the right for a 77-yard score after the Hogs’ offense couldn’t do much after the Alabama score. Alabama 42, Hogs 23.
4Q 7:38: Hogs manage to answer with a 34-yard field goal and now they need a pair of touchdowns and a field goal and there simply may not be that much time left. Alabama 42, Hogs 26.
ANDY’S PICKS: Alabama’s answers may be too big for Hogs to handle
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A lot of Arkansas fans are just looking at Alabama’s unimpressive wins and thinking there’s a chance Saturday.
That depends on whether the Crimson Tide are living up to their No. 2 ranking or if the Razorbacks are better than their No. 20 position in the polls.
The Hogs and Tide play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Razorback Stadium on CBS and on HitThatLine.com.You can listen on the radio with ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Alabama is a 17-point favorite at the sports books with an over-under of 53, which means they don’t think the Hogs will be able to score that many points.
Maybe the most important part of the game is whether the Hogs can recover mentally from an emotionally-draining 23-21 loss to Texas A&M last week. They’ve only four games the next week over the last decade and that was over a SWAC team and New Mexico State.
The last time they played Alabama after the Aggies, it was a 65-31 loss that was nowhere near as close as the final score sounds.
Kind of like last season.
The Tide ran off to a 31-14 lead in the second half, then basically kept scoring. The Hogs tried an onside kick with 62 seconds left to try and have a shot at tying the game, but it didn’t work.
Now fans are going to be in all red Saturday and expecting something on the order of what they had last year in a win over Texas.
Then Nick Saban challenged his team earlier this week. Linebacker Will Robinson said he couldn’t believe “the audacity” of the Hogs playing on the same field as them.
That’s the kind of statement that’s either a warning sign or motivation.
My guess is the former.
Alabama 42, Hogs 21
SEC PICKS THIS WEEK
Peter Morgan and I are about dead even in this year’s picks contest and this could be the week that breaks things open.
That happens when the games get better.
South Carolina State at South Carolina: Moved up to Thursday night, the Gamecocks had little trouble in a 50-10 win. No surprise there for either one of us doing the picking.
7 Kentucky at 14 Ole Miss (-6.5): The view here is this will be the best game played in the SEC this week. It certainly is intriguing with the Rebels’ running attack taking center stage and the Wildcats taking an interest in football. I like Lane Kiffin in big games against anybody other than Nick Saban. Ole Miss 31, Kentucky 21
17 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (-4.5): The line on this one may surprise some people, but after seeing the Aggies last week against Arkansas, there is the inevitable letdown. A&M didn’t dominate last week while the Bulldogs are quietly putting together a decent team and they can throw the ball very well. Mississippi State 28, Texas A&M 24
LSU (-8) at Auburn: The annual battle of the Tigers and one coach is in his first year (Brian Kelly at LSU) and another was lucky to last a full year (Bryan Harsin at Auburn) and may be the first coach out before the end of the year. A loss here and he may not make it to Halloween. LSU 24, Auburn 10
1 Georgia (-29) at Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz may be in hot water in Columbia and it’s a good bet this game won’t help it cool off much because the Bulldogs are either first or second in the league (depending on your point of view). The Tigers aren’t and have gone backwards since he took over a couple of years ago. Georgia 51, Missouri 10
Eastern Washington at Florida (NL): The Gators need to get the ship headed back in the direction it was going after they started fast before running into Kentucky, then Tennessee. This should be little more than just a scrimmage in front of fans for Florida. If it’s not then the Gators have more problems than anyone suspected in Billy Napier’s first season. Florida 54, Eastern Washington 14
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