The Razorbacks are 10-2 straight up, 7-4 to the number, going over 7-of-11 this season. Ohio State is 11-1 straight up and a sensational 9-2 against the spread. They have exceeded the total at an 8-4 rate.
The Razorbacks are quite impressive on offense getting 4.6 yards per rush to teams that normally allow 4.1, 9.7 passing yards per attempt to 7.2 for an imposing 7.3 yards per play to 5.5.
Though not as striking, the Hogs are well above average on defense. They permit 4.0 yards per rush versus squads that earn 4.4, 6.9 yards per pass versus squads that earn 7.5, and 5.1 yards per play to 5.6.
The Buckeyes have better ratings on the defensive side, though less impressive offensive ratios.
With the ball, OSU gets 5.3 yards per rush to teams that normally allow 4.3, 8.5 passing yards per attempt to 7.3, and 6.5 yards per play to 5.6.
Defensively, they shut down the run to a tune of 3.0 yards per rush to squads that normally accumulate 4.5, just 5.5 yards per pass to 7.2, and 4.2 yards per play to 5.6.
Top expert pick on this game: ScoresOddsPicks is up 51 units this season based on one-unit per bet. Moneyline huge underdog winners have contributed including the Raiders +164 Sunday. Tonight is the big one as ScoresOddsPicks is on his way to being the first sports handicapper or service to ever, ever win 60 units in one football betting season and it started with a great NFLX.
It's the Bowl Best Bet of the Year. Everything has fallen into place, mismatches on the field and on the sidelines, motivational factors, angles, situations, and soft lines. This Arkansas vs. Ohio State game is truly a lock. It's up now from ScoresOddsPicks.
In addition, Matt Rivers has a spread pick in the NBA on the Sacramento Kings (+5) to Atlanta.
I'll take a handful at home here with the Kings. Certainly the Hawks are the superior team with Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and AL Horford leading the way against the 7-24 Kings but Sacramento has won two of their last three games against Phoenix and Memphis and if they made it three of four tonight I wouldn't be all that shocked.
Sacramento is not as dreadful as that record indicates and with Tyreke Evans at least playing, fully healthy or not, they stand a chance against most teams at Arco and that includes these Hawks. Atlanta is a very good NBA team that will win around 50 games once again but they are also a team that cannot be fully trusted 3,000 miles across the country like this as the motivation level more than likely will be fairly low with the far superior Jazz on deck tomorrow night.
Evans, Demarcus Cousins, Samuel Dalembert, Omri Casspi and the Kings aren't good and I'm not saying they are but there is enough at home to compete in a spot such as this one against the good but not great boys from Hotlanta.
Sac-Town has started to even defend a little bit as in two of their last five games they have held their opponents in the 80's. With the sun peeking out a little bit on the season right now I believe that this home dog is worthy of a play.
The pick: Sacramento Kings.
For more information: When all was said and done the Cardinal was clearly the right side as Matt Rivers won for the second straight day. Now Rivers is going to get a third straight winner thanks to this 400,000* Sugar Bowl lock involving Arkansas and Ohio State. The red hot Razorbacks with Ryan Mallet against Terrelle Pryor and the 11-1 Buckeyes, wow. Bonus 200,000* Big East winner on the hardwoods between Pittsburgh and Providence. Rock, solid, lock from Matt Rivers