Here are the Inside Arkansas staff predictions for Thursday’s regular season opener between Arkansas and UAPB as well as picks for the rest of the SEC slate against the spread for the weekend.
Kickoff between the Razorbacks and Golden Lions is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at War Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Picks are based on the most updated spreads at Bet Saracen. Arkansas is currently favored at -48.5.
More from Inside Arkansas:
- Arkansas Football Week 1 Depth Chart
- 5 Most Important Hogs to Watch Against UAPB
- Game Week Position Battles
- Patrick Kutas unlikely to play versus UAPB
STAFF PREDICTIONS
CURTIS WILKERSON: It’s interesting this line has shrunk four points in the last week or so. With the talent disparity at play on Thursday, Arkansas “should” be able to pick it score against UAPB. However, the Razorbacks haven’t covered a spread this large since beating Nicholls State in 2014 and opted to shorten the game against UAPB after going up 45-0 at halftime in 2021. Hogs cruise, but Pittman doesn’t run it up enough to cover. Just. Stay. Healthy… Arkansas 52, UAPB 7
- Murray State +47.5 at Missouri
- Oklahoma -42.5 vs Temple
- Clemson +13.5 vs Georgia
- Virginia Tech -13 at Vandy
- Texas -32 vs Colorado State
- Miami -2.5 at Florida
- South Carolina -21 vs Old Dominion
- E Kentucky +25.5 at Mississippi State
- Notre Dame +3 at Texas A&M
- Kentucky -28 vs Southern Miss
- USC +4 LSU
ANDREW ELLIS: Everyone is freaking out about the gigantic spread, but all indications are that Arkansas is playing a worse version of the Western Carolina team it thumped in Little Rock last season. It feels like the type of game the Hogs could cover if they really wanted to, but Sam Pittman isn’t typically one to run it up in these situations. Still, I don’t see the Golden Lions having an answer for the Hogs’ first-team offense, and the recent dip in the betting line is enough for me to feel OK being on the Arkansas side of it. Arkansas 59, UAPB 10
- Murray State +47.5 at Missouri
- Temple +42.5 at Oklahoma
- Georgia -13.5 vs Clemson
- Vanderbilt +13 vs Va Tech
- Texas -32 vs Colorado State
- Miami -2.5 at Florida
- South Carolina -21 vs Old Dominion
- Mississippi St -25.5 vs Eastern Kentucky
- Notre Dame +3 at Texas A&M
- Southern Miss +28 at Kentucky
- USC +4 vs LSU
JOHN NABORS: Arkansas will come out of the gate a little sluggish on a Thursday night in War Memorial Stadium. The anticipation has been building to see what this team is all about, especially with Bobby Petrino calling the offense. But all that excitement will go stale as the Hogs start with a 3 and out offensively & even allow UAPB to move the ball down field. Fans get restless, but jump right back into it after the Hogs get a pick six to the house for 70+ yards. Once that happens, the Hogs get the swagger back & take care of business the rest of the way. Taylen Green looks sharp with his deep ball throws, Ja’Quinden Jackson looks untackleable, & Landon Jackson eats up the offensive line of UAPB. Arkansas 38, UAPB 10
- Murray State +47.5 at Missouri
- Oklahoma -42.5 vs Temple
- UGA -13.5 vs Clemson
- Vandy +13 vs Virginia Tech
- Texas -32 vs Colorado State
- Florida +2.5 vs Miami
- South Carolina -21 vs Old Dominion
- E Kentucky +25.5 at Mississippi State
- Notre Dame +3 at Texas A&M
- Kentucky -28 vs Southern Miss
- LSU -4 vs USC
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