New Mexico State vs. Arkansas Preview, TV, Radio, Odds, Prediction

Date: Saturday, September 30

Start Time: 10 a.m. MT; wake up early!

Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas

TV: SEC Network

Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ or any number of other affiliates

Odds: Arkansas is favored by 17 points

Series History: Arkansas leads the all time series 5-0 with the last meeting being a 63-13 Razorback victory back in 2004.

New Mexico State Outlook

The Aggies are coming off a huge 41-14 win over UTEP, in which the defense dominated the whole game, securing five interceptions.

Shamad Lomax secured three of those interceptions and earned himself Sun Belt Player of the Week honors as a result.

Larry Rose III had his biggest game of the season putting the team on his back and scoring the first two touchdowns on his way to a 144 yard, two touchdown effort. His performance moved him into second on the Aggies all time rushing yards list.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Tyler Rogers also continued his impressive start to the season throwing for 283 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 60.5% of his passes.

Linebacker Dalton Herrington leads the much improved Aggies defense into Hog country, as he has amassed 42 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. New Mexico State’s defense already has 12 sacks, which is more than they had all of last year.

NMSU will need their defense to continue to blitz and get home in order for the team to have any chance at winning. Rogers, Rose and Co. will take care of the offense.

Arkansas Razorbacks Outlook

The Razorbacks are led by Brett Bielema who is in his fourth year as the head coach and has a 26-28 record. Arkansas is currently 1-2 and coming off an overtime 50-43 loss to Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium.

The Razorback offense, which averages 379.7 yards of offense, is led by QB Austin Allen who has thrown for 502 yards and four touchdowns. Johnathan Nance is the leading receiver with nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Arkansas’s rushing attack is a running back by committee as six different players have multiple carries and three have rushing touchdowns.

David Williams is the leading rusher with 199 yards and two touchdowns and 29 carries. Bielema is known for his ground game so look for the Razorbacks to keep it on the ground early and often.

Linebackers Dre Greenlaw and De’Jon Harris lead the UA defense. Greenlaw has 33 tackles while Harris has 27.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

As a whole, however, the defense has given up an average of 345.7 yards per game and has been outscored 40-29 in the 4th quarter. That bodes well for the Aggies offense that can wear down opponents and hang with Power 5 opponents, which they showed week 1 versus Arizona State.

Prediction

I think the Aggies will make it a close game in the 4th quarter as their passing and running game will compliment each other and wear down the Razorback defense.

I hope the Aggies pull off the upset because I don’t like Bielema but I don’t see that happening.

Arkansas 41, Aggies 25