Arkansas Razorbacks vs Texas A&M Aggies at Cowboy Stadium
Saturday, 10/9/10, 3:30 PM EDT, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Arkansas -6.5
Current Betting Line: Arkansas -5
Opening Total: 55.5
Current Total: 61.5
Current Moneyline: Arkansas -215/Texas A&M +185
Lines from above taken from Bookmaker Sportsbook
Arkansas is hoping for similar results from its last visit to Cowboy Stadium when it faced the Aggies last season, capturing a dominating 47-19 victory in the first year of a 10-year contract for both teams to play at the facility. “We’re excited to go back to Dallas,” said head coach Bobby Petrino. “It was a lot of fun last year with the unbelievable atmosphere and an unbelievable stadium to play in.” The Razorbacks enter the game with a 3-1 record, their best start in three seasons under Petrino, with the only loss coming to top-ranked Alabama. The team has won eight of its last 10 games dating back to last season and Petrino-led teams are 23-7 all-time when having more than one week to prepare for a game. Arkansas is 4-4 against members of the Big 12 Conference since its inception in 1996. Over the last three years, the squad is 3-5 ATS in non-conference games.
The Razorbacks are led by quarterback Ryan Mallett who threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s game in front of a crowd of 71,872. Mallett and his offensive mates have had two weeks off since a 24-20 home loss to No. 1 Alabama, as he had one of his worst performances in tossing one touchdown and three interceptions. “I think it makes you work harder, when you watch it and you see the pain you went through,” he stated. “I add something to you.” Arkansas is 13-of-14 in the red zone so far this season, which is second in the SEC and tied for 12th nationally. Over the course of the season, the team has trailed for just 8:48 through four games. The total is 7-19 Over/Under in the squad’s last 26 games as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points.
Texas A&M will play its second straight game away from Kyle Field when they play an old Southwest Conference rival. The Aggies blew a second-half lead in their last game, a 38-35 loss at Oklahoma State on September 30th in their Big 12 opener. Arkansas is Texas A&M’s seventh most-played opponent with 66 all-time meeting dating back to the first contest in 1903. The team trails 24-39-3 all-time in the series and the two have split the last 10 meetings evenly at five wins each. Last year’s matchup marked the first time both teams squared off since the last year of the SWC in 1991. The Aggies are 3-5 ATS versus the SEC in their last eight chances.
The Aggies rank No. 6 in total offense (509.8 ypg) and No. 14 in total defense (279.5 ypg), which makes them one of just three teams nationally to rank in the top 20 in both categories. The other two teams are Alabama and Boise State. Part of the team’s problem has been turnovers this season, committing 14 of them, which is tied for fifth-most in the nation. Quarterback Jerrod Johnson threw four interceptions for the second straight game, which is a troubling statistic considering he set a conference record with 242 straight completions without an interception last year. Part of the problem is a rebuilt offensive line that has allowed 14 sacks thus far in 2010. The team is 1-5 ATS over the last three seasons on turf.
Bettors will take great interest in the Razorbacks 5-11 ATS mark in their last 16 non-conference games, but the Aggies offer little with a 4-9 ATS record in the same situation. Maddux Sports has released one of their 7 premium NCAA football picks on the side of the this game. We know we have the right side so hop on board now and cash an easy ticket on Saturday. Included in our Saturday NCAA football picks package are 6 other winners including our Big Ten football game of the year!
