Game day is almost here, so it is time for the staff at Inside Arkansas to make their picks for Saturday’s primetime matchup against No. 8 LSU for the Hogs as well as the full SEC weekend slate.
The Razorbacks (4-2, 2-1 SEC) and Volunteers (5-1, 2-0 SEC) are set for a 6 p.m. (CT) kickoff from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Arkansas is currently a +2 home underdog, according to the lines at Bet Saracen.
More from Inside Arkansas:
- Arkansas Football Week 8 Depth Chart: LSU Game
- Sam Pittman impressed with Nussmeier, LSU
- SEC Teleconference: Pittman gives latest on Taylen Green
- Arkansas-LSU Midweek SEC Availability Report
- Arkansas and LSU Battle for the Golden Boot in Fayetteville
- 3 ‘Musts’ for Arkansas in Primetime Matchup with LSU
STAFF PREDICTIONS
JOHN NABORS: The Battle for the Golden Boot has had many wild finishes over the past 20 years and this game won’t be any different. Arkansas will come out strong from a bye week with a healthy squad ready to play in front of a raucous crowd in Razorback Stadium. LSU will definitely punch back & keep it close, but I believe the Hogs will win in a close one for another 3 point margin of victory. 20-17, W
- Missouri -4 Auburn
- Oklahoma -1.5 South Carolina
- Tennessee +3 Alabama
- Texas A&M -16.5 Mississippi State
- Vandy -25 Ball State
- Georgia +5 Texas
- Kentucky -1.5 Florida
ANDREW ELLIS: It almost makes *too* much sense for Arkansas to pull of the upset here. The Hogs are more dangerous than their 4-2 record might indicate as an unranked team, and the Tigers aren’t quite as dominant as their Top 10 ranking would suggest. Arkansas is absolutely not above coming out flat at home, especially with the bye week halting some of their momentum, but I think the Razorback run game can thrive in this matchup and get the job done against a scary passing attack. 31-27, W
- Missouri -4 Auburn
- Oklahoma -1.5 South Carolina
- Tennessee +3 Alabama
- Texas A&M -16.5 Mississippi State
- Vanderbilt -25 Ball St
- Georgia +5 Texas
- Kentucky +1.5 Florida
CURTIS WILKERSON: Every good story has a villain, and it appears once again I have to be the heel in this operation at Inside Arkansas. Despite picking the Razorbacks to beat LSU in our preseason predictions, I’m reversing course to balance out the overly-sweet Kool-Aid sipping from my colleagues. So many factors point to the Hogs in this one. LSU is as beatable as ever. National talking heads are predicting Arkansas. The vibes are super high in Fayetteville. Fitting time to get punched in the gut again if you ask me. 28-24, L
- Missouri -4 Auburn
- South Carolina +1.5 Oklahoma
- Alabama -3 Tennessee
- Texas A&M -16.5 Mississippi State
- Ball State +25 Vanderbilt
- Texas -5 Georgia
- Kentucky +1.5 Florida
PEYTON SANDERS: Arkansas will once again have its hands full with No. 8 LSU coming to town, but I like Taylen Green to reestablish himself with his legs and form that dynamic 1-2 punch with Ja’Quinden Jackson in the ground game to exploit an LSU defense coming off a mentally and physically exhausting win over Ole Miss last week. 31-27, W
- Missouri -4 Auburn
- South Carolina +1.5 Oklahoma
- Tennessee +3 Alabama
- Mississippi State +16.5 Texas A&M
- Vanderbilt -25 Ball State
- Texas -5 Georgia
- Kentucky -1.5 Florida