LSU vs Arkansas Week 8 Preview

Erik Trosclair • October 17, 2024

Let's get into it!

Date & Time: Saturday, October 19, 2024 6:00 PM

Location: Reynolds Razorback Stadium

TV: ESPN

Spread: LSU -2.5

O/U: 55.5


The Battle for the Boot is set for this Saturday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Each of the last 4 meetings have all been settled by 3 points. This will be the 70th meeting between LSU and Arkansas. LSU leads the series 42-23-2. LSU had 2 victories vacated. The 1st meeting between these schools took place in 1901; LSU was victorious 15-0. LSU has won the previous 2 contests in this series, and Arkansas has not beat LSU in Fayetteville since 2014.


Arkansas (RV) is 4-2 on the season. While the Razorbacks are coming off of a bye week, this will be their 4th straight SEC game. Offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino, yes that Bobby Petrino, has brought new life to this Arkansas offense. This offense is 4th in the SEC in total yards per game (484.3), 5th in the SEC in passing yards per game (285.3), and 4th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (199). The Arkansas offense is led by quarterback Taylen Green. The Boise State transfer is 4th in the SEC in passing yards with (1502) and the 2nd most rushing yards by a quarterback in the SEC (326). Green is a little dinged up, but he should be up for this one. Running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, a Utah transfer, has the 4th most rushing yards in the SEC (566) and the 3rd most rushing TDs in the SEC (10). Andrew Armstrong is the leader in the receiving room; he currently has the 3rd most receiving yards in the SEC (552). The Arkansas defense is 9th in the SEC in total yards given up (321.5), 11th in the SEC in passing yards per game (215), and 5th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (106.5). This defense is led by linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. Xavian has 40 tackles on the season, which is the 12th most in the SEC. Defensive linemen Landon Jackson and Eric Gregory are the leaders up front. Jackson, who is a former LSU Tiger, has 2.5 sacks on the season and 22 tackles. Gregory, who is a 6th year senior, has 2.5 sacks on the season and 17 tackles. Defensive back TJ Metcalf has 3 interceptions, and he is 2nd on the team in total tackles with 35.


LSU (#8/#8) is coming off of a massive upset win over rival Ole Miss. This will be the Tigers 2nd consecutive SEC game and their 3rd SEC contest of the season. Joe Sloan has done a great job with this Tiger offense so far this season, and defensive coordinator Blake Baker is everything Tiger fans could have asked for, and then some! This Tiger offense is 5th in the SEC in total yards per game (460.3), 2nd in the SEC in passing yards per game (337), and 15th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (123.3). This offense goes as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier goes. Currently, Nuss has the 13th highest QBR in the nation, 6th most passing yards in the nation (1989), and the 5th most passing TDs in the nation with 18. Pass catchers Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson, and Mason Taylor are the leaders in the receiver and tight end rooms. Kyren has the 5th most receiving yards in the SEC (463), and he is tied for the most receiving TDs in the SEC (6). Anderson is tied for the 6th most receiving yards in the SEC (452). Lacy and Anderson are tied for the 8th most receptions in the SEC (30). Mason Taylor has the 4th most receptions in the SEC (33). This Tiger defense stepped up big time in last week's victory over Ole Miss. Bradyn Swinson and Sai'vion Jones are the leaders coming off the edge for the Tiger defense. Jones has the 6th most sacks in the SEC (4.5), and Swinson has the 5th most sacks in the nation (7.0). Whit Weeks and Greg Penn III are the leaders at the linebacker position. Weeks has the 10th most tackles in the nation (59). Penn III has the 6th most tackles in the SEC (47). Zy Alexander and Ashton Stamps have really held it down in the defensive backfield for the Tigers. Stamps is tied for the 13th most passes defended in the nation (6), and Alexander has 2 interceptions on the season. Kicker Damian Ramos continues to show up when the Tigers need him.


KEYS TO THE GAME

- Hangover - After an overtime win last week, will the Tigers keep up the intensity in this one?

- Air it out - This Razorback defense is near the bottom of the conference in passing defense. Let's see if the Tigers can continue the air attack.

- Pressure - This Arkansas offensive line has given up the 6th most sacks in the SEC, and LSU's defense has the 2nd most sacks in the SEC. Will the Tigers get after Taylen Green?

- Run Run Run - Can Josh Williams and Caden Durham continue to show up when the Tigers need them? While the stat sheet isn't jam packed with great rushing stats, Williams and Durham have shown up big time for the Tigers.


Fun Fact: Arkansas wide receiver Monte Harrison, #82, played for the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels. Harrison was committed to play baseball and football at Nebraska but decided to go the professional route after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Brewers. Like Wu Tang said cream get the money.


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Hawks @ Pelicans Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • November 1, 2026
Team Stats (Hawks at Pelicans) Final Score: 99-121 Rebounds: 36-49 Assists: 20-27 Blocks: 4-4 Steals: 11-15 Turnovers: 19-23 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: CJ McCollum, 14; Saddiq Bey, 25 Rebound Leaders: Onyeka Okongwu, 10; Karlo Matkovic, 10 Assist Leaders: Kingston Flemings, 6; Jeremiah Fears, 7 My Player of the Game: Saddiq Bey Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The Hawks average 142 points per game, but because of the Pelicans stifling defense, the Hawks didn't score even 100. * Saddiq Bey finished the game with 25 points, six rebounds, and four steals -- all around huge night for him . * Dejounte Murray did not play as he is recovering from the birth of his child, and Jordan Poole and Yves Missi are still on the injured list . * Jeremiah Fears needs to be the only starting PG going forward. * The Pelicans will play the Memphis Grizzles on Monday, and that team is 6-0 on the season. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.

Saints 2027 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

By Kaden Arkeder • November 1, 2026
We’re nearing the mid way point of the season and with the Saints sitting at 2-5 an eye on the future is probably a good thing. So I took a crack at a 2027 NFL mock draft for the Saints to see what I could do to put the Saints in a better position for next season. Round 1 - Pick #10 Dylan Stewart - Edge - South Carolina Now I will admit this was a lucky pick based on how the simulator went but I also would not rule out the player for the Saints based on how they have played so far this season. Dylan Stewart is a prototypical edge prospect who has shown flashes of dominance at South Carolina ever since his freshman season. Stewart is considered by many as one of the elite blue chip talents in this upcoming draft class and the Saints would be ecstatic to draft a player of his caliber to take the defense back to a contending level. With all of his talent though Stewart will need an important background check after some on field concerns he had this season between punching a player and arguing with coaches. Round 2 - Pick #41 Kingston Lopa - Safety - Cal Kingston Lopa is a physical outlier for his position. Listed at 6 '5 and 210 pounds Lopa is a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses as he can line up in various spots and fill multiple roles as a defensive back. Lopa’s size allows him to mirror opposing tight ends and bigger slots in man coverage but also has the awareness to be a ball hawk when playing in zone. As evidenced by his five interceptions so far this season. Round 3 - Pick #72 A.J. Holmes Jr. - Defensive Tackle - Texas Tech AJ Holmes is a defensive tackle who knows how to get after the quarterback. Holmes is someone I expect to shoot up draft boards the longer we go through the pre draft process as his combination of size and disruptiveness is coveted by every team. His addition to the Saints defense would bring quality another interior rusher to the room and give the Saints the ability to keep players more fresh throughout the game. Round 4 - Pick #108 Isaac Brown - Running Back - Louisville Isaac Brown is one of if not the most explosive running backs in the country and upcoming draft class. Brown’s speed jumps off the screen and would be a welcome addition to a run game that has been anything but explosive for a long time now here in New Orleans. He is another player where once we get deeper into the pre draft process I am not fully expecting to be here at this point in the draft. Round 5 - Pick #142 Jyaire Hill - Cornerback - Michigan Jyaire Hill is a talented prototypical corner prospect who has not been able to put all his talents together quite yet. But with his 6 '2 frame and athleticism at this point in the draft you love the upside Hill could bring should he develop with more coaching at the next level. Round 6 - Pick #181 Nyck Harbor - Wide Receiver - South Carolina Nyck Harbor has been one of the most athletic freaks in all of college football for a while now and his size and athleticism alone should get him drafted. Standing at 6’5 and 240 pounds Harbor can flat out run as evidenced by his track background. There will be conversations about Harbor converting to tight end which could be on the table but I think it is more likely he continues his development as a wide receiver who can take the top off a defense. This simulation was a fun one as I was able to really address the defense which needs quite the infusion of talent to reach a contending level. The later rounds in the draft were high upside swings with clear visions for their development. If the Saints were able to have a successful upcoming draft addressing multiple needs it would go a long way in helping end their postseason drought. I am looking forward to doing more of these mocks as we lead up to the draft as with more information plenty will change between then and now.
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