Prediction Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Who will win and why

We’re in for a notable SEC vs. ACC matchup this weekend, as the Arkansas Razorbacks look for a quality win over the Big 12 title and playoff contender Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday in Week 2 of college football.

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman enters the season with a proverbial hot seat after a four-game winning streak last year, but his offense came to life in a 70-0 win over Pine-Bluff in which new quarterback Taylen Green accounted for four all-purpose touchdowns and the Hogs’ running game accounted for 279 yards and 8 touchdowns.

College football rushing champion Ollie Gordon is expected to be the engine of an offense that will be one of the few teams capable of competing for the championship of the newly expanded Big 12 Conference in 2024.

A win against an unranked SEC opponent may not exponentially improve Oklahoma State’s playoff chances, but a loss in this matchup would certainly hurt those chances. Arkansas has a chance to dash those hopes and earn a significant road win against a ranked team to improve Pittman’s job security.

What to expect from this matchup Here’s what to look for when Arkansas faces Oklahoma State in this Week 2 college football game.

When: Saturday, September 7
Time: 11am Central
TV: ABC Network

Lines provided courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Oklahoma State: -9.5 (-115)
Arkansas: +9.5 (-105)

Cowboys win: -375
Razorbacks win: +290

Over 61.5 points: -114
Below 61.5 points: -106

FPI Tips: Oklahoma State to win with 56.1%

1.Ollie. Gordon returned to Oklahoma State for one more season, giving the school’s playoff hopes a huge boost. He wasted no time in the opening game, rushing for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

Still, head coach Mike Gundy expressed some concerns about his team’s overall performance in the running game, as the unit averaged just 3.8 yards per carry when it had the ball. Those numbers don’t meet the standard the Cowboys have set with their excellent blocking ability.

2. Pigs against the barrel. Arkansas ranked 86th nationally in rushing offense last season and, on paper, shouldn’t have much of an advantage over Gordon and the Cowboys’ strong offensive line.

But the Hogs return defensive end Landon Jackson and have considerable size inside with two 300-pound tackles who can clog those lanes early in the game.

3. QB battle. A contrast in styles between Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and veteran Oklahoma State signal caller Alan Bowman, both of whom possess strong skills that allow them to exploit weaknesses in the other team’s defense.

Green is a dual-threat transfer who threw 2 touchdowns and ran for 2 more in his Razorback debut and has the ability to outrun would-be tacklers who are a half-step off the mark. Bowman is a pocket passer with plenty of experience who made 24 of 33 throws last week and scored 2 TDs in the opener. Both have the ability to win a close game in the fourth quarter.

It’s tempting to say Arkansas took a big step forward offensively after last week’s performance, but keep in mind that that performance came against a team that was the second-worst in the SWAC last season.

Overall defense was the Cowboys’ weakness last year and the Razorbacks should be able to put Green and tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson in position to create space behind those first seven tacklers, which can give them the edge early in the game.

Arkansas can make some plays on the forward defense to limit Gordon at times, but the Cowboys’ offensive line is much better and Bowman has pass receivers at his disposal who can spread the field.

College Football HQ’s selection…

The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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