How to watch Arkansas vs. Auburn 2014: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more
Despite a disappointing season, Arkansas gave the eventual SEC champions a fight at home in 2013. Are Bret Bielema’s Razorbacks equipped to give the Tigers fits in year two of the rebuild?
On the surface, Auburn and Arkansas are a fascinating study in contrasts. Gus Malzahn’s rebuilding project at Auburn was an overnight success. Bret Bielema’s rebuilding project at Arkansas is still ... a work in progress. Gus Malzahn is the face of the hurry-up, no-huddle offense and probably its most successful practitioner. Bret Bielema has, on occasion, aligned with Nick Saban in an effort to make it illegal. Malzahn will try to prove that Auburn’s 2013 season wasn’t a wayward step in the right direction. Bielema will try to prove that Arkansas’ wasn’t a wayward step in the wrong one.
And yet for all their superficial differences, the Tigers and Razorbacks are ultimately a pair of teams who would be content to run the ball and run the ball and run the ball some more. And that's exactly what you should expect to see on Saturday, especially with Nick Marshall, Auburn's Heisman-frontrunner starting quarterback, not starting due to a suspension.
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How to witness
TV: The game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
Radio: You can find a full list of Auburn radio affiliates right here. Stations carrying the Arkansas broadcast can be found here.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Auburn is ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and No. 6 in the Coaches Poll. Arkansas is unranked in every major poll.
Vegas: Most oddsmakers favor Auburn to win by three scores, with spreads ranging from 20 to 21 points in favor of the Tigers. The over/under has been set at 57.5.
Weather forecast: On Saturday afternoon the high is expected to be 89 with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Three names to know
Jeremy Johnson - The sophomore and former blue-chip prospect will get an audition at taking over for Nick Marshall in 2015 while the latter serves a suspension for possession of a controlled substance. Marshall won't start, but is available to play in the game. Johnson saw a decent amount of game action in 2013, completing 70 percent of his 41 pass attempts for 422 yards and six touchdowns. He'll present a bit of a different look than Marshall.
Alex Collins & Jonathan Williams - If the Razorbacks' offense can be counted upon to do one thing well in 2014, running the football is that one thing. Collins and Williams combined for nearly 2,000 yards in 2013 while getting little help in the passing game. If the Arkansas aerial attack can improve at all, it will only make this duo more dangerous.
Sammie Coates - The 6'2, 201-pound wide receiver was Nick Marshall's favorite target by a wide margin in 2013. Marshall targeted Ricardo Louis, the Tigers' second-leading receiver, just a little more than half as often. Even though Marshall won't be starting against Arkansas, expect Jeremy Johnson to get him involved early and often.
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Two things at stake
Auburn has aspirations of defending its SEC championship. That quest begins against Arkansas, a team it ought to beat.
After a 3-9 season and winless conference record in 2013, Arkansas should be content with making its way back to a bowl game. The Razorbacks don’t need to beat Auburn to make that happen, but it sure would help.
Further reading
Check out our Auburn blog College And Magnolia, and catch our coverage of the the Razorbacks at Arkansas Fight.
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