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The TCU Horned Frogs are going to be out for revenge when they face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in this Week 2 matchup. The Horned Frogs were down 20-7 to the Razorbacks heading into the fourth quarter when these teams met last year, but roared back to take a 28-20 lead with just two minutes left. Arkansas ended up forcing overtime and pulled it out in the extra frame after Austin Allen ran it in from five yards out. It was a tough loss for TCU and took the team from No. 15 to unranked in the AP Poll.
This matchup in Week 2 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2017,
at 3:30 p.m. ET at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This game will be broadcast on CBS.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
TCU -3.5
Arkansas +3.5
Over/Under 58.5
Odds Analysis
TCU scored an easy win over Jackson State last week, but didn’t get the cover. The Horned Frogs won 63-0 against their opponent from the SWAC, but were 64-point favorites in the game. It was the highest point spread of the opening week of the season and the failure to cover also meant the game went under the total.
The Razorbacks also enjoyed a comfortable Week 1 win. There was never a doubt that they were going to beat Florida A&M as they relied on their run game to grind out the win. Arkansas was another touchdown away from covering, but could never get north of the number. Their game also went under the total.
Matchup to Watch
Neither one of these schools is a traditional passing power, but both have solid quarterbacks and will look to move the ball through the air.
TCU has Kenny Hill taking snaps for one more season. Hill was pretty good in his first year as a Horned Frog in 2016, but threw far too many interceptions and limited how good this offense can be. At this point, you know what you are going to get with him. He is going to make some plays with his feet and be a solid passer, but will make some boneheaded decisions with the football.
Austin Allen might be the most underrated quarterback in the SEC. Although he plays for a coach that doesn’t like to throw the ball, he has been very successful moving the ball through the air and made this offense more balanced in the process. Allen was even able to have some success against Alabama’s defense and that’s saying something. He doesn’t have the weapons he did last season though, so that’s a concern.
Coaching Angle
Bret Bielema has two former head coaches calling the shots for the Razorbacks on both sides of the ball. On offense, he has former Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos, who has helped this team average at least 30 points in each of the last two seasons. Enos has worked with Allen to help make this offense multi-dimensional, rather than just relying on the run.
Defensively, Bielema made a shrewd hire in Paul Rhoads last season. Rhoads spent 2016 as the secondary coach, but now steps into the main role of defensive coordinator for the Razorbacks defense. He was a great defensive mind at Iowa State and his knowledge of TCU from his time there should help the Razorbacks.
Free ATS Pick
There has been significant line movement in this game. Arkansas opened as a 1.5-point favorite, but now sit at a 3.5-point underdog. The early action is all on the Horned Frogs, but there are some good reasons to play Arkansas.
Allen is a better quarterback than Hill and can lead his team to a win on the road. TCU is a solid team, but this isn’t a good matchup for them and Arkansas will get the upset win.
College Football Odds: Razorbacks 28, Horned Frogs 27
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