Arkansas at Auburn Betting Odds & Prediction

While Texas A&M-Alabama gets all the attention in college football and the SEC on Saturday, there’s another good matchup in the SEC West featuring ranked teams as No. 17 Arkansas visits No. 21 Auburn. A win for the Tigers would seem to almost assure that Coach Gus Malzahn isn’t fired after the season and they are favored in college football lines. Malzahn played wide receiver for Arkansas in 1984-85.

Arkansas at Auburn Betting Odds, Prediction & TV Info

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When: Saturday, Oct. 22, 6 PM ET Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Radio: Arkansas / Auburn Opening NCAA Football Lines: Tigers -9.5 (55.5)

Why Bet on Arkansas?

The Hogs have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC in Austin Allen. He led a win over No. 20 Ole Miss last week, 34-30. Allen completed 19-of- 32 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns against a Rebel defense that had allowed only two passing touchdowns the first five games of the season. Rawleigh Williams finished with a career-high 180 yards on the ground on 27 carries. Williams’ 180 rushing yards were the most by a Razorback in an SEC game since Knile Davis ran for 187 yards at Mississippi State in November of 2010. Highlighted by three runs of 20 or more yards, including a 53-yarder, Williams wasn’t stopped for a loss on any of his 27 carries. Williams took over the SEC rushing lead with 785 yards, a mark that ranks eighth nationally. Williams is one of three Power 5 Conference players with 750-plus rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Allen extended his streak of consecutive games of 200 yards or more passing to six, while becoming the only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback to throw multiple touchdown passes in seven games this season. He is the first quarterback in school history and one of just four in the SEC since 2000 with multiple scoring tosses in each of the first seven games. Allen has completed 138 of 219 passes for 1,861 yards and 18 touchdowns against six interceptions this season. His SEC-leading 18 touchdowns rank tied for seventh in the FBS and are the most in school history through the first seven games. He also ranks second in the SEC in passer rating (156.0) and third in completion percentage (63.0), passing yards per game (265.9) and yards per attempt (8.5).

Why Bet on Auburn?

The Tigers are off their bye. The status of Auburn’s leading rusher remains up in the air ahead of this game. Kerryon Johnson, who sustained a rolled ankle in the first quarter of Auburn’s win against Mississippi State on Oct. 8, has been working his way back to the field this week and Auburn’s coaching staff remains optimistic that he will be available to play. Johnson leads Auburn with 538 yards and six rushing touchdowns on the season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Auburn’s offensive line has had a new look the last two games — wins against ULM and Mississippi State — after starting center Xavier Dampeer sustained an ankle injury in the second half of Auburn’s win against LSU on Sept. 24. The changes in the trenches have had positive results for Auburn (4-2, 2-1) during its last two wins, as the Tigers have given up just three sacks total after allowing 12 through the season’s first four games. The unit has also performed well in run-blocking with Auburn totaling 638 rushing yards. Auburn is 104-151- 6 all-time facing ranked opponents. Auburn is 46-40- 2 at home against ranked teams, 27-64- 2 on the road and 31-47- 2 against ranked teams on a neutral field. Auburn holds a 13-11- 1 advantage in the series history with Arkansas. The Razorbacks were 54- 46 winners in four overtimes last season in Fayetteville. The Tigers lead 6-5- 1 in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The last 15 games (2001-2015) of the series have featured 11 games decided by 17 points or more. The average margin of victory in the series during that time is 16.27 points per game.

My Betting Pick

Favorite is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings. Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Auburn. Home team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings. Auburn wins but take the points in NCAA betting. Go over the total.