Auburn sits at 3-4 and is looking to get back to .500 against Arkansas. It is coming off its bye week after being outlasted in a shootout with a top-10 Ole Miss team on the road. Here's how our staff picked the game:
Callie Stanford, Sports Editor: Auburn 28-17
"Auburn has had two weeks to prepare for what is a beatable team. The Tigers should be able to capitalize on an excited home crowd and Tank Bigsby's recent success to get a win at home. If the offense can limit turnovers and the defense can hold off the Razorback run game, this shouldn't be that much of a challenge."
Noah Griffith, Assistant Sports Editor: Auburn 27-21
"Auburn finally put on a full, four-quarter performance against Ole Miss. If not for a wild onside kick, Auburn had a good chance to change the outcome of that game or at least force OT. On the other hand, Arkansas hasn't won a conference game since week two against South Carolina. With a bye week to help Auburn rest and regroup, I expect them to build off of the explosive offensive showing from last game and get a hard-fought win capped off by a Derick Hall sack of K.J. Jefferson."
Jacob Waters, Sports Reporter: Arkansas 28-24
"Both teams are coming off a bye and should be healthy and prepared to play each other. Auburn has won six straight in this series and five of them were not even close. However, this is not the same Auburn team as old. I also am not fooled by Arkansas' 4-3 record. Injuries have bit the Razorbacks in their losses, and now that they are healthy again, I expect Arkansas to return to its old form. Arkansas runs the ball nearly as well as Ole Miss, and we saw how badly Auburn handled the run against the Rebels. With a lot of noise surrounding his program, I think Harsin and his team drop another conference game."
Daniel Schmidt, Assistant News Editor: Arkansas 31-27
"After a much-improved showing against Ole Miss two weeks ago, I expect Auburn to play another complete game after a bye-week that allowed them to get a little healthier. I also expect inter-program turmoil concerning redshirts and the transfer portal to impact the Tigers' performance. Arkansas enters the game tied for the 63rd-ranked rush defense, which bodes well for Tank Bigsby, Robby Ashford and Jarquez Hunter. In the end, however, Arkansas' ninth-ranked rush offense finds a way to overpower Auburn's 119th-ranked rush defense and wins an old-fashioned SEC slobber knocker."
Lily Stewart, Sports Writer: Auburn 31-24
"Auburn played its most complete game of the season against Ole Miss. Even though it was a loss on record, I think it was a win in the minds of the players and coaches going into the bye-week. They were able to take this time to get priorities straight as a team, which may have lead to the whole redshirt and transfer portal headlines. However, I think the mental aspect of the team is at an all time for this season. One of the key factors will to stop Arkansas from capitalizing on mistakes, like turnovers, and keep the mistakes to a minimum. Auburn fans need hope and Harsin needs to make a statement, and a conference win over Arkansas may just give both what they're looking for."
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