Arkansas vs. Alabama College Football Week 6 Preview, TV Schedule, Prediction

TV Schedule: Saturday, October 10, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Line: Alabama (-16.5)

Last year’s matchup between these two SEC powerhouses almost ended in disaster for Nick Saban and the Tide. Arkansas was ahead by a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter when their inexperience and the Tide defense got the better of them. The Razorbacks lost 14-13 and Alabama avoided a second straight SEC loss.

The Tide were still reeling from a shocking upset at Ole Miss that so rallied the Rebel fanbase a goalpost was toppled over. Saban and his NFL-caliber defense couldn’t allow another blemish on their record, so they stepped up their play and made sure the Razorbacks wouldn’t score again.

The story behind this year’s matchup is eerily similar. Alabama suffered its lone loss to Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa; Arkansas lost another overtime battle to Texas A&M two weeks before they meet Alabama (last year’s OT score was 35-28; this year’s OT score was 28-21).

Will Alabama allow another upset on their home turf this year? Can Arkansas pull off the upset against an Alabama team they haven’t beaten in seven years? Is it finally time for Arkansas and Bret Bielema to shine? Or will Alabama prove once and for all that their dynasty is alive and well?

If Arkansas plays anything like they did last year, it could be a close one, but they have more than just the physical Tide to defeat. They’ll have to defeat the historical Tide as well since Alabama hasn’t lost two conference games since 2010. Alabama will be hard-pressed to lose another game at home, especially to a team that is 2-8 against ranked SEC opponents since 2013.

However, Arkansas did just break their record of SEC road games lost after last week’s win at Tennessee. Before that, the Razorbacks had lost 10 consecutive conference games played outside Arkansas. They’ll have confidence heading into Tuscaloosa, but expect the Tide to keep on rolling.

Prediction: Alabama 34, Arkansas 21

Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.