These two teams are surprisingly similar when looking at their stats for this year, however the two leagues that the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas St. Red Wolves play in are polar opposites. These stats are comparable number wise but when adjusted for competition Alabama comes out way ahead Arkansas State.
This is the advantage that Alabama gets for being the No. 2 seed. Even if Gus Malzhan was the coach for Arkansas State for this game he would have a tough time putting up more than one touchdown against the Crimson Tide.
Here are the obligatory stats.
| Alabama |
Arkansas State |
| 36.0 PPG | 33.5 PPG |
| 433.4 Total YPG | 453.1 Total YPG |
| 219.83 Rushing YPG | 165.58 Rushing YPG |
| 213.6 Passing YPG | 287.8 Passing YPG |
| 8.8 Points allowed per game | 19.3 Points allowed per game |
| 191.3 Yards allowed per game | 325.7 Yards allowed per game |
| 74.92 Rushing yards allowed per game | 107.25 Rushing yards allowed per game |
| 116.3 Passing yards allowed per game | 218.4 Passing yards allowed per game |
| +6 Turnover margin | +6 turnover margin |
| 2.17 Sacks per game | 2.67 Sacks per game |
My score prediction for this game will be Alabama 38 Arkansas State 12.
Polls open each day at 12 p.m. Mountain time and run for 24 hours.