#8 Arkansas vs #2 Georgia | 2021 NCAAF Game Preview

Saturday is one of the biggest games in recent Arkansas history as the surprising eighth-ranked Hogs visit No. 2 Georgia in what could be an SEC Championship Game preview. The Dawgs are heavy favorites on the NCAAF odds.

How to Bet Arkansas at Georgia NCAA Football Odds & TV Info

When: Saturday, noon ET
Where: Sanford Stadium
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAF Lines: Georgia -18.5 (total 48.5)

Serie History

Georgia leads the all-time series with Arkansas 11-4. The schools last met in Fayetteville to open the shortened 2020 season with the Bulldogs knocking off the Razorbacks 37-10. Neither starting QB from that game will play here. This marks the second matchup between Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, who spent the 2016-19 seasons at Georgia, the first three as the offensive line coach and the final year as Associate Head Coach in charge of the offensive line.

Why Bet on Arkansas?

Arkansas (4-0) improved to 2-0 vs. ranked teams this year with a 20-10 upset of No. 7 Texas A&M last Saturday to reach 4-0 for the first time since 2003.

QB KJ Jefferson completed 7-of-15 passes for 212 yards and two TDs. WR Treylon Burks hauled in an 85-yard TD reception in the first quarter, his second TD grab on 85+ yards in as many weeks. He also totaled over 100+ receiving yards for the second straight game, posting 135 in the first quarter. Burks recorded his sixth career 100+ yard receiving game, which is tied with George Wilson (2001-03) for sixth-most in school history. Burks made a reception in his 24th straight game. He is one of five FBS players to record a catch in every game of their careers (minimum 20 games).

Williams and Burks were both banged up in the game but expected to play here. Jefferson is 46-for-78 passing with six touchdowns and two interceptions, and has rushed for another 230 yards and two scores. Jefferson is the only quarterback in the SEC with 800 passing yards and 200 rushing yards on the year. Burks has 19 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 19.6 yards per reception.

The Arkansas defense held Texas A&M to season-lows of 272 total yards and 151 passing yards. The Aggies did not reach the red zone. End Tre Williams, a transfer from Missouri, leads Arkansas in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (4.5) this season, wreaking havoc with two sacks and three quarterback hurries in the win against Texas A&M. Williams’ 11.5 career sacks are the most among all active Razorbacks defenders.

It was the Hogs’ first win against an AP Poll top-7 team since Nov. 28, 2010, a 31-23 win over No. 6 LSU. The No. 8 ranking is the Hogs’ highest since September 2012, when Arkansas peaked at No. 8 in the polls two games into the year.

Arkansas has allowed zero first-quarter points through four games this season, outscoring opponents by a combined 34-0 margin in the opening 15 minutes. With a win on Saturday, Arkansas would improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1998 — the year the Razorbacks finished as SEC Western Division co-champions.

Why Bet on Georgia?

Georgia embarrassed Vanderbilt 62-0 last week. UGA (4-0, 2-0 SEC) tallied 532 yards of offense: 291 passing and 241 rushing. Junior tailback Zamir White led the Bulldogs’ runners with 48 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Redshirt junior quarterback JT Daniels finished 9-for-10 passing for 121 yards and two touchdowns before senior quarterback Stetson Bennett relieved him in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs held the Commodores to just 77 yards of total offense, including only 53 on the ground. The Bulldogs also racked up two interceptions, a sack, and four tackles for loss.

The 62-point margin of victory was the largest since 2014 when Georgia blanked Troy 66-0. It was Georgia’s second biggest margin of victory ever in an SEC game, trailing only a record 75-0 win over Florida in 1942. The Bulldogs have won their last three games by at least 27 points, marking the first time they have done that since the 2017 season when they did it six times.

Georgia freshman tight end Darnell Washington (foot) has yet to suit up for Georgia in 2021, but could make his return this weekend. Washington was expected to be a key contributor but has yet to take the field due to a foot injury. Georgia freshman WR Arian Smith (leg) has missed the last two weeks, but is likely to play.

UGA leads the nation in scoring defense giving up just 5.8 points per game. The defense has allowed just one touchdown this season and it came in the fourth quarter versus South Carolina with the Bulldogs leading 40-6. Georgia’s opponents have advanced to the Red Zone only four times this season resulting in three field goals and turning it over once on downs. Georgia had held its first four opponents to a total of 23 points. Georgia topped UAB 56-7 and it is worth nothing that the Blazers’ touchdown came on a pick-six.

Georgia is 11-6 against top-10 teams under Kirby Smart, including 3-0 at home.