A pair of SEC teams find themselves in a cross-divisional matchup when Arkansas hosts South Carolina in Week 2 action this Saturday.
Both are coming off wins in last weekend’s season openers: for Arkansas, over a ranked Cincinnati club, and South Carolina in a 21-point victory over Georgia State.
Here’s what you need to know about the Week 2 game.
Week 2 College Football Schedule: Arkansas vs. South Carolina
how to look
When: Saturday, September 10
Time: 12 pm Eastern Time
Television: ESPN network
Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Odds, point spread, betting lines
Line: Arkansas -8.5
S/U: 53
Money line: ARK -376 USC +250
FPI Pick: Arkansas 73.4%
Arkansas vs. South Carolina: what to see
Arkansas: KJ Jefferson was ready throwing the ball last week in a win over Cincinnati, responsible for 4 TDs and rushing for 62 yards, while the Hogs played a solid game on both fronts at the line of scrimmage. Cincy isn’t what it used to be, but beating a CFP-ranked team is an important step in Arkansas’ return to prominence. But he looks at what the Razorbacks back 7 looks like against Rattler after battling Ben Bryant at times.
South Carolina: There were some areas of concern for the Gamecocks in the first game. Spencer Rattler had some misses and didn’t drive the ball as well as we know he can. Carolina’s offensive line, a unit that allowed 31 sacks a year ago, needs to beef up after Georgia State was able to put some pocket pressure on and limit the Gamecocks’ backs. Rattler can fight better than most, but that can’t be the basis of this offense.
South Carolina vs. Arkansas: Fast Facts
+ South Carolina is 12-18 in its last 30 SEC opening games and is 0-4 in its last four
+ Arkansas led the Power 5 in rushing last season with an average of 227.8 ypg
+ South Carolina has won 3 in a row over the Razorbacks
+ Razorbacks have won 8 of 11 over USC when the game is in Arkansas
+ Arkansas has scored 30-plus points in 10 of KJ Jefferson’s 16 starts
+ Spencer Rattler is 16-2 as a starter with 4,822 career yards and 41 TDs
+ Arkansas is 9-0 under Sam Pittman when allowing fewer than 21 points per game and 4-11 when allowing more
+ South Carolina O line has a combined 134 career starts
+ Arkansas is 10-3 with Pittman when leading after the first quarter and 1-8 when trailing
+ USC reduced its points allowed per game from 36.0 in 2020 to 24.0 last season behind seventh-ranked pass defense
+ Razorbacks are 12-2 when leading after the third quarter and 0-8 when trailing
+ South Carolina allowed 200 rushing yards to Georgia State, with 85 on 2 runs – the other 38 attempts generated 115 yards and 3.0 ypc
+ Arkansas is 8-0 when winning the turnover battle with Pittman and 0-3 when losing it
What happens?
South Carolina could have a hard time stopping the fever this season. He allowed Georgia State to run for 200 in Game 1 and now lines up against a Razorback running game that ranks among the best in the nation.
Arkansas led the Power 5 and ranked seventh overall with nearly 230 rushing yards per game a year ago, and led the SEC with 2,961 total rushing yards. The group is playing behind an excellent lineup of veterans with a combined 103 starts, second-most in the SEC.
Rattler should look a little better testing the deep end of the field than he did last week, but Arkansas has built an identity by playing tough, honest football and has the pieces to control pace and possession and pull it off.
College Football Venue Prediction: Arkansas 27, South Carolina 20
According to the AP Top 25 Poll
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Clemson
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- notre dame
- Baylor
- USC
- oklahoma state
- Florida
- Utah
- state of michigan
- miami
- Arkansas
- pittsburgh
- State of North Carolina
- Wisconsin
- Kentucky
- BYU
- old lady
- forest stele
- Tennessee
- houston
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