The Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas Longhorns meet up tonight in the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl inside Reliant Stadium in Houston. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the odds for the game have Arkansas favored by a touchdown to get the job done tonight.
Arkansas started the year pretty well, going 3-1 in their first four games, but like Texas ended the season with a 6-6 record. Many consider there to be too many bowl games this time of year, but both Arkansas and Texas are thankful to have the extra month of practice with the ability to pick up a bowl victory. There has to be some added incentive as well, because the losers in the game will finish the season with a below .500 record for 2014 and that's never good. Arkansas, though, has been in that position for a couple of years now, but it looks like Bret Bielema is starting to turn things around and getting the Hogs going in the right direction.
The Razorbacks ended up winning two of their last three games as well, coming up with huge victories over LSU and Ole Miss to help get them to this point in the season. Bielema has the Hogs playing well and the running game is a big reason for it. Arkansas averages better than 220 yards on the ground per game, led by Justin Williams and Alex Collins, both going over the 1,000 yard mark for the season and combining for 23 touchdowns.
Texas will have to be able to slow those guys down, or the Hogs will be stomping their way to a win tonight.
The Longhorns have not been a good offensive team this season, averaging only 22.6 points per game, which ranks 104th nationally. They found a way to get into a bowl game by winning three of their last four games overall and they have found a solid quarterback in Tyrone Swoopes, who is only going to continue to get better.
Swoopes will be looking to get the football out to their big-play threat John Harris tonight. Harris averages almost 16 yards per catch this season, going over the 1,000 yard mark as well.
Both defenses have been OK this season, giving up 20 (Arkansas) and 23 (Texas) points per game, respectively. This game is going to come down to turnovers and potentially special teams. Arkansas has a bit of an edge because of the way they have played the last month and they have no problems lining up and running the football effectively the entire game.
Free Pick: Arkansas 28, Texas 24
How The Wiseguys Attack Bowl Season
Teddy Covers from Pregame.com and Pauly Howard give handicapping tips and insight on how the wiseguys attack the bowl season.
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