Alabama football vs. Arkansas Razorbacks: Scouting report, score prediction
The New Mexico State cupcake has been digested, and now Alabama football moves back to facing SEC opponents. Up next: Arkansas.
The No. 22 Razorbacks have taken a significant leap in coach Sam Pittman's second year. He took over in the 2020 pandemic season and put together a 3-7 record. This year, Arkansas has already flipped that record, sitting at 7-3, 3-3 SEC heading into the game with No. 2 Alabama (9-1, 5-1) at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium on CBS.
Those seven wins include victories over Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas.
"Sam Pittman has done a fantastic job, I think, with his team in the two years that he's been there," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "They're probably improved as much from last year to this year as anybody in the country."
Here's a look at Arkansas ahead of the last home game of the season for Alabama football.
Treylon Burks top offensive weapon
Burks is Arkansas' top offensive threat for whom Alabama's secondary will need to account.
He's third in the SEC for receiving yards (781), tied for second in touchdowns (8) and tied for fifth in receptions (51). Saban called Burks a great receiver.
"I do think that they have a talented group of receivers, so we know that we have to come in with a great game plan from the coaches," Alabama cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis said, "and it’s just up to us to do all the things necessary to prepare well and go out and execute it on Saturday."
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Burks didn't catch a touchdown against LSU, but he entered that game with five scores over the previous three games.
"He is a physical mismatch," Saban said. "He's bigger than most of the guys who are trying to guard him. It's kind of like a point guard trying to cover a power forward type guy who can run fast."
Strength of defense stems from linebackers
Bumper Pool has a great name, but he also has been a great linebacker.
He is second in the SEC with 100 tackles. Alongside him at the linebacker spot is Grant Morgan, who has 78 tackles this season. Morgan was also an All-SEC first-team pick at linebacker during the 2020 season.
“I mean those guys are fast, physical guys," Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. "I think they’ll show up ready to play. On film, they hustle to the ball, a physical team. So I just got to be ready for whatever they come with.”
The Alabama offensive line will need to account for both Pool and Morgan. Two weeks ago, the Crimson Tide had its hands full with the SEC's top tackler, LSU linebacker Damone Clark, and now Alabama faces two more tackling machines.
Penalties a problem
The Crimson Tide hasn't been stellar this season when it comes to how many times it has been penalized, but the Razorbacks are among the worst in the country.
Arkansas ranks No. 125 out of 130 FBS teams with 8.6 penalties per game. Alabama is tied for No. 99 with 7.1.
Score prediction
Alabama 34, Arkansas 17: Alabama's defense has some momentum, and that continues in the game against the Razorbacks. Arkansas has made improvements, but it still doesn't have enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Crimson Tide.
Contact Alabama reporter Nick Kelly: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football vs. Arkansas Razorbacks: Score prediction, scouting report
