Neither team is particularly happy about what happened last weekend.
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Arkansas suffered a 24–17 home defeat against Tennessee, while Vanderbilt endured a miserable afternoon in a 52–17 loss to Ole Miss.
Both teams desperately need a victory, making this an intriguing matchup despite their recent struggles.
Vanderbilt’s biggest priority is defensive improvement. The Commodores simply cannot allow opponents to score at the rate Ole Miss did last weekend. Arkansas may not possess the Rebels’ explosive offense, but the Razorbacks are certainly capable of taking advantage of poor tackling and blown assignments.
Arkansas must establish offensive balance. If the Razorbacks can run effectively, they’ll have opportunities to control the tempo and keep Vanderbilt’s offense on the sidelines.
The Commodores, meanwhile, need to rediscover their offensive confidence. Playing at home should help, but they’ll have to avoid turnovers and finish drives with touchdowns rather than field goals.
This game could feature several momentum swings. Neither team has demonstrated enough consistency to make it an easy prediction.
I’ll give Vanderbilt a narrow advantage at home, with the Commodores making just enough plays in the fourth quarter to escape with an important victory.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 28, Arkansas 24
