3 Keys to Hogs Getting Off the 3-Point Loss Schneid vs LSU

Kyren Lacy, Taylen Green, Arkansas football, Arkansas vs LSU
photo credit: LSU Athletics / Craven Whitlow

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas vs LSU rivalry, commonly known as the Battle for the Golden Boot, will be renewed Saturday night.

With the Tigers coming in ranked No. 8 in this week’s AP Poll, it’ll be a chance for the Razorbacks to pull off back-to-back wins over top-10 opponents for the first time in school history. They knocked off No. 4 Tennessee before an open date last week.

Despite being unranked, Arkansas is just a 2.5-point underdog, according to BetSaracen. That is an appropriate spread for a series that has been decided by exactly 3 points each of the last four years.

LSU won three of those matchups, coming out on top in 2020 (27-24), 2022 (13-10) and 2023 (34-31). The Razorbacks’ lone win during that stretch was in 2021, when Cam Little made a game-winning field goal in overtime to cap a 16-13 victory in Baton Rouge.

It has been a decade since Arkansas beat the Tigers in Fayetteville. That was, of course, the famed 17-0 win over No. 17 LSU to snap what was a 17-game SEC losing streak, prompting fans to storm the field.

Hunter Yurachek probably wouldn’t like history to totally repeat itself, as a field storming would require him to pay $500,000 to the Tigers, but a win would certainly be big for the program.

Not only would it practically guarantee Sam Pittman a sixth year as head coach and vault the Razorbacks into the rankings, but it would make a potential run to the College Football Playoff a little bit more realistic.

Before any talk of that, though, Arkansas must beat LSU. Here are three big keys for the Razorbacks to do just that…

3 Keys in Arkansas vs LSU

1. Protect Taylen Green

With Arkansas completely leaving him off the SEC’s required availability report, it seems like Taylen Green is good to go Saturday after suffering a bone bruise on his knee two weeks earlier against Tennessee. However, it fair to wonder how close to 100% he’ll be, especially given how important his legs are to his success.

If Green is hindered at all and can’t scramble like we’re accustomed to seeing, that makes it even more important than usual for the Razorbacks to protect him in the pocket.

That won’t be easy, either. Even though it doesn’t seem to be a vintage LSU defense on paper, the Tigers do lead the SEC and rank fifth nationally with 3.5 sacks per game. They are led by senior defensive ends Bradyn Swinson (7 sacks) and Sai’vion Jones (4.5 sacks), who rank second and sixth in the SEC, respectively.

Another thing to keep in mind: LSU’s edge rushers are coached by Kevin Peoples, who has plenty of experience facing a Bobby Petrino offense from his time as the Razorbacks’ defensive line coach in 2011.

2. Don’t Give up Big Plays Through the Air

LSU has one of the best passing attacks in the country. It ranks sixth in passing yards per game (337.0) and is tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (18).

The Razorbacks probably won’t be able to completely stop Garrett Nussmeier, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they can do enough to limit the Tigers in the passing game to avoid getting into a shootout. The key is preventing them from getting explosive plays through the air.

Heading into this weekend, LSU has 29 pass plays of at least 20 yards, which is tied for eighth nationally. It helps that Kyren Lacy and Aaron Anderson are one of the top receiver duos in the SEC, plus the Tigers are likely to get CJ Daniels back, as he’s considered “probable” for the game after missing the Ole Miss game.

Those guys are going to get their yards, but Arkansas must make them earn it. The Hogs can’t let them get behind the secondary for huge chunk plays. By forcing Nussmeier to make more throws, it increases the chances Arkansas might force him into a mistake. After all, he’s thrown two interceptions in each of LSU’s last two games after throwing only two total over the first four games.

3. Win Special Teams

This key could probably appear on this kind of list for every game, but it’s especially important when an unranked team is trying to upset a top-10 foe.

Returning a punt or kickoff for a score would be great, but that’s not exactly what we mean by “winning” special teams. It’s more basic than that.

Make your field goals. Don’t allow long returns. Flip the field with long punts.

Field goals have been a bit of an issue this year and it’ll be interesting to see how Matthew Shipley handles it after taking over for the injured Kyle Ramsey. One good thing for the Razorbacks is they still have Devin Bale, who has been a weapon for them as their punter.

If Arkansas is going to beat LSU, it needs this group to be on point.

Hutch’s Take: Arkansas, 27-24

Before the season, I picked the Razorbacks to lose this game 24-22 — with either a last-second field goal by LSU or a missed field goal by Arkansas.

Perhaps that was a bit cruel of a prediction, but at the time, I was operating under a “believe it when I see it” line of thinking when it comes to Sam Pittman and close games.

Well, I saw it last week. Throw in having a week off to get right mentally after the emotional win over No. 4 Tennessee — not to mention Pittman’s track record off of open dates — and LSU coming off an emotional win over Ole Miss last week, I think we could be in store for another upset.

SEC Availability Report

Here’s the official availability report for Arkansas vs LSU from the SEC…

Arkansas

  • CB Jaylon Braxton: OUT
  • RB Rodney Hill: OUT
  • K Kyle Ramsey: OUT

LSU

  • WR Chris Hilton Jr.: OUT
  • LB Harold Perkins Jr.: OUT
  • WR Kyle Parker: OUT
  • RB John Emery Jr.: OUT
  • DE Princeton Malbrue: OUT
  • OL Kobe Roberts: OUT
  • LB Jake Ibieta: OUT
  • OL Tyree Adams: OUT
  • DT Jacobian Guillory: OUT

Arkansas vs LSU Depth Chart

Here is the official depth chart for the Arkansas vs LSU game, from the UA’s game notes…

Offense

POSFirstSecondMore
QBTaylen GreenMalachi SingletonKJ Jackson
Blake Boda
RBJa’Quinden JacksonRodney HillBraylen Russell
Rashod Dubinion
Tyrell Reed
TELuke HaszTy WashingtonVar’keyes Gumms
Andreas Paaske
WR-ZTyrone BrodenJordan Anthony -OR-
CJ Brown
Davion Dozier
WR-XAndrew ArmstrongMonte Harrison
WR-WIsaiah SategnaIsaac TeSlaaKhafre Brown
LTFernando Carmona Jr.E’Marion Harris
LGE’Marion HarrisBrooks Edmonson
CAddison NicholsAmaury Wiggins
RGJoshua BraunTy’Kieast Crawford
RTKeyshawn BlackstockJoe More

Changes from last week:

  • There are no changes to the offensive depth chart.

Defense

POSFirstSecondMore
DELandon JacksonQuincy Rhodes Jr.
DTCam BallKeivie RoseDanny Saili
DTEric GregoryIan Geffrard
DENico Davillier -OR-
Anton Juncaj
LBBrad Spence -OR-
Stephen Dix Jr.
Alex Sanford
LBXavian Sorey Jr.Anthony Switzer -OR-
Bradley Shaw
NBDoneiko SlaughterTevis Metcalf
CBMarquise Robinson -OR-
Jaheim Singletary -OR-
Kee’yon Stewart
STJ MetcalfHudson ClarkAhkhari Johnson
SJayden JohnsonLarry Worth III
CBJaylon BraxtonSelman Bridges

Changes from last week:

  • There are no changes to the defensive depth chart.

Special Teams

POSFirstSecond
KMatthew ShipleyCharlie Von Der Meden
PDevin BaleSam Dubwig
KODevin Bale
LSAshton NgoMax Schmidly
HDevin BaleSam Dubwig
KRIsaiah SategnaRodney Hill
PRIsaiah SategnaBryce Stephens

Changes from last week:

  • The only change on the depth chart is at kicker. Kyle Ramsey suffered a significant groin injury against Tennessee and will miss some time, so Shipley has taken over as the starter.

How to Watch Arkansas vs LSU

Date: Saturday, Oct. 19

Location: Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Kickoff time (TV): 6 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Commentators: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter)

ESPN FPI: LSU has an 54.2% chance to win.

Odds/Betting Line: LSU, -2.5 | O/U 57.5 (BetSaracen)

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