Arkansas’ breakthrough season continues on Saturday when the No. 21 Razorbacks (7-3, 3-3) take on No. 2 Alabama (9-1, 5-1) at Tuscaloosa, where they have played within 2 touchdowns of the Tide just once since 2007. The Hogs are a 3-TD underdog; they’re 1-2 in true road games this season.

So what can we expect on Saturday? Well, if this season has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Arkansas certainly won’t be intimidated or taken by surprise at the talent level on the opposite sideline. the Hogs have already played 4 top-20 teams, splitting those games.

Sam Pittman is the first Arkansas head coach to defeat 3 ranked opponents in his first 14 games since Lou Holtz (1977-78); just sayin’.

It will be an interesting matchup, strength against strength, when Arkansas has the football. The Razorbacks rank 2nd in the SEC in rushing, averaging 233.5 yards per game, which also ranks 6th nationally. Arkansas is 1 of only 7 FBS teams with at least 7 games of 200-plus rushing yards.

The quartet of Trelon Smith (513), KJ Jefferson (474), Raheim Sanders (460) and Dominique Johnson (456) have, through 10 games, made Arkansas 1 of just 2 teams in the country (Ole Miss is the other) with 4 400-plus-yard rushers. They are the first foursome at Arkansas to reach 400-plus yards in a season since 1975 (Ike Forte, Jerry Eckwood, Rolland Fuchs and Scott Bull).

Conversely, Alabama ranks 2nd in the SEC in rushing defense, yielding an average of just 83.5 yards per game. In just 2 games have the Tide given up more than 100 yards.

That, in my opinion, is the biggest matchup of this game. If Arkansas can run the ball effectively, it can keep the ball out of the hands of the Alabama offense, cut down on the Tide’s opportunities and allow the Hogs to hang around to the end.

If not — if Arkansas can’t put together a running game — it could make for a long afternoon. How offensive coordinator Kendal Briles gameplans that running game, with the weapons at his disposal, will be interesting to see.

That’s not to say the Hogs won’t air it out on occasion, especially with receivers like Treylon Burks, who needs just 4 receiving yards to reach 800 for the season. When he reaches that plateau, he will become the first Razorback this century to post back-to-back 800-yard seasons. The last Arkansas player to accomplish the feat was Anthony Eubanks in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

Run or pass, the Razorbacks will certainly strive to win the time-of-possession battle.

The last thing you want to do is give Alabama quarterback Bryce Young additional opportunities, especially with the way the Razorbacks’ passing defense has been playing lately. Arkansas is allowing an average of 299 passing yards over the last 4 SEC games, while Young is averaging 347.5 passing yards over his last 4 SEC games.

Either way, the Razorbacks’ secondary will be on full alert. Though as a group it has yielded some yardage lately, it has also come up with some big plays. In fact, since Barry Odom began as defensive coordinator in 2020, the Razorbacks have totaled 23 interceptions in 20 games. That’s the 2nd most in the SEC behind Alabama’s 27 (and 7th nationally) over that span.

Winning the turnover battle will be critical for Arkansas’ chances of pulling off the biggest upset in the Pittman era. Both teams have been proficient in that department. Alabama ranks 2nd in the SEC with a +8 turnover margin, while Arkansas is at +5.

It all boils down to another intriguing SEC tussle in a fun and entertaining season for Arkansas that continues to trend upward.

Prediction: Alabama 34, Arkansas 14