Five Reasons Arkansas Can Beat Georgia

1. The Sam Pittman Factor

One of the reasons Arkansas has started 4-0 is due to how motivating Pittman is. His players love him and will run full speed through a brick wall for him. The Razorbacks have been underdogs twice this season to ranked teams Texas (-6) and Texas A&M (-4.5) but were able to defeat both of them by double digits. In both of their other victories they have beaten the spread and won games by 21 points over Rice and 35 points against Georgia Southern.

Pittman squeezes more than enough talent and energy out his players than any other coach in the country. Don’t expect the Hogs to lay down without a fight this week. Georgia is a dang good football team and Pittman knows that. However, an 11 AM CST kickoff on Saturday should help Arkansas stay motivated and catch Georgia lagging to start…we can hope.

2. The Barry Odom defense

It feels like there is a defensive master plan that Odom has in store for the Georgia Bulldogs. Although he never defeated them as the head coach at Missouri he was able to dial up a defense that could at least slow the Bulldogs down.

If Arkansas plays a 3-3-5 defense and drops eight defenders each play J.T. Daniels will pick apart the Razorback defense. The one thing I fear is how Arkansas plays the deep ball? The Bulldogs have weapons all over the field at receiver and aren’t afraid to air it out. Brock Bowers and Jermaine Burton are their two studs so stopping them will be key.

The Hogs have to worry about Zamir White in the running game. He only has 207 yards and 2 touchdowns on the year and with the Bulldogs only averaging 177 yards per game rushing the Hogs can stand a chance.

3. KJ Jefferson’s deep ball accuracy

Many national pundits and a few fans weren’t very happy with Jefferson as the starter during the Rice game. Once Kendal Briles opened up his playbook with the deep ball things really started to blossom offensively. Jefferson has torn the top off a few defenses this season but not one like Georgia. He has four touchdowns of 45 yards or more in the 4-0 start. That should keep the Bulldogs honest instead of loading the box against an Arkansas running game that ranks eighth in the country.

4. Arkansas is deeper at running back

We all know that it is going to be hard work on Saturday running the ball against the Georgia front seven. The Bulldogs have a lot of bite in them, they make quick work of their opponents and don’t stay on the field very long. The ‘Dogs only allow 2.3 yards per run and haven’t allowed a single touchdown this season.

They haven’t played a running back group as deep as Arkansas’ and one that will impose their will and physicality on them. Hello Georgia, meet “Lightning” AJ Green, “Human Bowling Ball” Dominique Johnson, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and “Slick” Trelon Smith. All of them average more than five yards a carry and have combined for 10 touchdown this season.

5. 11 AM kickoff

There is one item worth speaking of that could absolutely play in Arkansas’ favor is the early kickoff. The sleep could still be in Georgia player’s eyes. There won’t be an all-day tailgate prior to the game so will the fans be ready? Will Pittman have his Hogs juiced and ready for the biggest matchup of his tenure early in the day? All the stars will need to align but anything can happen.