Staff Predictions: Horns Down!

Dan: Right now, Texas is a 4.5 point favorite, and that might move to 6.5 or 7.5 before kickoff. I think both teams put on solid performances last week at home, though Arkansas left a lot to be desired in the first half.

It really comes down to who can stop the other defensively, because both offenses are potent and can strike quick.

I’m going to give the edge to Arkansas here, simply because it is the first away start for Hudson Card and it will be in front of a sold out Donald W Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

I think the home-field advantage gives Arkansas the win, but it’s close.

Arkansas 45, Texas 42

Pete: I’m conflicted on this one. I want to go with Arkansas and probably would have prior to last week, but I was certainly not encouraged by the Hogs’ season opener. Although they pulled off the win and eventually covered the spread after scoring 31 unanswered, the Razorbacks were trailing a bad Conference-USA team by double-digits during the second half at home.

The atmosphere at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium on Saturday will be insane compared to last weekend, so I am going to take that into account when making my prediction. Still, I don’t think Arkansas is going to be able to pull off the upset. KJ Jefferson didn’t look sharp, missing wide open receivers. Accuracy will be even more important against tighter coverage, thus I expect him to throw a couple of costly interceptions.

Texas does have a redshirt freshman at quarterback, but he looked sharp in the Longhorns’ season opener. I expect him to be rattled but do enough to get the job done. That being said, the atmosphere could get to him, Kendal Briles could call a way better game than he did in Week 1, and KJ might have the juice with his playmaking ability to ignite the Razorbacks to a huge win. However, I’m gonna go with my head and not my heart and take the dreaded Longhorns in a close one. Man, that hurts to say…but also good teams win but great teams cover.

Texas 31, Arkansas 28

Ben: I’m not going to be popular for this pick, but I just don’t have a good feeling about this week. Is Texas beatable? Absolutely. They are not a Top 25 team. They’re decent.

With the offense’s struggles last week, it is hard to believe it will be night and day better in just one week. I worry the defense will be gassed in the 2nd half because the offense can’t stay on the field. And we know if Arkansas gets behind early then KJ Jefferson will have to pass a lot. Arkansas won’t win doing that.

Texas 31, Arkansas 20

Jacob: Blame me if I’m giving fans too much hope or injecting optimism into their veins. I have high hopes in this team and I will not back away from them whatsoever. I still say six to eight wins would be a great season for Razorback Football but adding a victory over hated rival and soon to be conference foe Texas would be the icing on the cake.

As for this weekend’s game there is so much national attention surrounding Fayetteville. It has the feel of ten years ago and Razorback past with all the hype on campus.

If Arkansas can win this football game it could possibly catapult them into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2016.

The Razorback defense will be on attack mode in the first quarter issuing a safety on Hudson Card to start the game. The cadence of the fans in the stadium, 83,000 strong, will make it so hard to hear resulting in a early 2-0 lead.

This game will be such a hard hitting, low scoring game and merely similar to the 2004 game except this time the Hogs win. Trelon Smith and Rocket Sanders combine for 220 yards rushing and two touchdowns. KJ Jefferson throws and runs for a combined 260 yards, too.

Arkansas 22, Texas 20