Texas vs Arkansas Odds, Spread and Prediction
- No. 15 Texas is a 7-point favorite over Arkansas on Saturday (September 11th, 7 pm ET) at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- The Longhorns earned a 38-18 win over Louisiana in Week 1, while Arkansas took care of Rice 38-17
- Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction
What used to be a heated rivalry will reunited on Saturday (September 11th) as No. 15 Texas visits unranked Arkansas. The two programs have a storied history that dates all the way back to 1894, but have met just five times since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992.
Both schools are coming off Week 1 victories, but while the Longhorns cruised by Louisiana, Arkansas needed a second half rally to get past Rice.
Texas vs Arkansas Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Longhorns | -275 | -7 (-110) | O 56 (-105) |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | +220 | +7 (-110) | U 56 (-115) |
Odds as of Sept. 9th at DraftKings.
Texas opened as a 6-point favorite and the line has since moved a point in the Longhorns’ favor. The game features a total of 56, down 2.5 points from when it opened, while the spread and total betting action are both one-sided. 86% of the ATS bets are on the Longhorns, while 75% of the total tickets are on the over.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm ET at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with ESPN providing the tv coverage, and 86 degree temperatures in the forecast.
Is Texas Back?
The Steve Sarkisian era in Texas started off with a bang, as the Longhorns handled No. 23 Louisiana from start to finish. They built a 23-point 4th quarter lead before setting for a 38-18 victory, easily covering the 8.5-point spread. Freshman Hudson Card was solid in his first career start, throwing for 2 TD, while rushing for another, and the Longhorns got a huge game from running back Bijan Robinson.
Have a day, Bijan Robinson
🤘 24 touches
🤘 176 total yards
🤘 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/PJRY31yHbA— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 5, 2021
The sophomore rushed for 103 yards and a TD, and racked up 4 catches for 73 yards and another score. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ fourth best Power 5 running back in Week 1, proving his 703 rushing yards and 196 receiving yards on just 101 touches last season was no fluke.
Sack ➡️ Celebrate 🤘 pic.twitter.com/cBMH3ljYN0
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 6, 2021
On the other side of the ball, Texas held Louisiana to 4-of-13 on third down, and a measly 2.9 yards per carry on 29 attempts. They recorded four sacks, and seven tackles for loss, while also recovering the game’s only fumble.
Arkansas Survives Scare
Arkansas meanwhile, posted a 38-17 victory over Rice, but despite covering the 19.5-point spread, were on upset alert for three quarters of the game. The Razorbacks trailed at halftime, and were tied 17-17 heading into the fourth quarter. Ultimately, they found their footing by scoring on five of their final six drives, but they cannot afford a similar start against the Longhorns.
KJ Jefferson looks to be in good shape to mepic.twitter.com/hoI9oSKrNd
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 4, 2021
Sophomore QB KJ Jefferson was shaky at best in Week 1, firing seven incompletions on his first 11 throws before settling down. He finished 12 of 21 for 128 yards, with a touchdown and a pick, but his biggest impact came on the ground. He rushed for 89 yards and two TD, including a 34-yard touchdown scamper to open the scoring.
Trelon Smith led the Arkansas ground attack with 102 yards and a score, while Tyson Morris and Treylon Burks were the only two pass catchers to haul in more than two receptions.
Beast mode. pic.twitter.com/kHv29Ibdbs
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 4, 2021
Defensively is where the Razorbacks made up for their offense’s sluggish start. They held Rice to 2.1 yards per attempt on 39 carries, and picked off sophomore QB Wiley Green three times. Arkansas also sacked Green twice, holding him to a minuscule 28.3 QBR.
Texas vs Arkansas Pick
If you are inclined to bet Texas ATS do so now, as the line is going to continue to tick up. It’s already at -7.5 at some online sportsbooks and given how lopsided the betting action has been, it could go even higher.
My main interest however, is the total. Yes, the Longhorns are a top-10 offense by SP+ ratings, but they’re not going to push this game over on their own. The Razorbacks offense didn’t exactly inspire confidence through three quarters versus a Rice team ranked 118th by SP+, and Jefferson is limited as a passer.
If Arkansas beats Texas it'll involve 15 designed QB runs minimum for KJ Jefferson pic.twitter.com/vCQevOdPgd
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) September 9, 2021
He owns a 49.5% career completion rate, and although he’s dangerous as a runner, you can bet Texas is going to do everything they can to keep him in the pocket. The Longhorns defense has the talent to wreak havoc on the Arkansas offensive line, just like they did versus Louisiana, which is going to cause big problems for Jefferson and company.
Pick: Under 56 (-115)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
