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Early opponent analysis: Arkansas must regroup for Texas Tech
By Eric Bolin
Published:
FAYETTEVILLE – Pretending Saturday did not happen will not work in Arkansas. The only is hope, though, is by the time Texas Tech visits Fayetteville this upcoming Saturday, the five stages of grief will have run their course.
Toledo shocked the Razorbacks in Week 2, 16-12. Arkansas moved the ball up and down the field to the tune of 515 yards, but a 1-for-5 finish in the red zone cost a win.
Texas Tech presents, arguably, an even greater challenge. Based off the 16 points allowed to Toledo, defense is not the primary issue at Arkansas. Still, it will be tested against one of the most pass-happy offenses in college football.
The peripherals would suggest Arkansas is not only in OK shape, but good shape. Arkansas is second in the SEC in total defense, third in total offense.
They’re also 1-1 overall.
Texas Tech is 2-0. Granted, the Red Raiders beat FCS school Sam Houston State in the season opener; a game in which, by the way, the Bearkats scored 45 points. But Arkansas and Texas Tech have a mutual opponent, too.
The Razorbacks beat UTEP 48-13 while Texas Tech won 69-20. Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders starting quarterback, has thrown for eight touchdowns with one interception. His 786 yards are second in FBS.
Texas Tech has lost just one nonconference game under coach Kliff Kingsbury. It was last year in Lubbock. Arkansas won, 49-28. The Razorbacks ran for 495 yards that day. Arkansas has run for 285 in two games so far this season.
It’s been the team’s biggest bugaboo. Offensive line questions, offensive coordinator questions, running back questions – everything that can be asked about the team’s ground game is being asked after the defeat to Toledo.
Kingsbury was asked about it, too, even. He was not about to step in that hole.
“I can’t comment,” he said. “They ran for about 800 yards on us last year.”
Arkansas is a betting favorite at nine points at the time of this writing. The two schools are former Southwest Conference rivals. The Razorbacks are 13-3 in the last 16 games between them. But last year’s was the first game since 1991.
Eric Bolin is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football and Arkansas.
