Arkansas football scouting report, predictions
FAYETTEVILLE - In its final game of the regular season, Arkansas football will look for its first win over Missouri since 2015.
The Razorbacks (7-4, 3-4 SEC) face the Tigers (6-5, 3-4) on Friday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Here is what you need to know about the matchup and a prediction:
Surging late
Missouri is trending up in November. It started the month with a 43-6 loss to Georgia but beat South Carolina and Florida in each of the last two weeks. Its overtime thriller against Florida last week was Missouri's sixth win, making the Tigers bowl eligible in a year that didn't look promising. It was also the last straw for Florida coach Dan Mullen, who was fired the next day.
"They're a hot team right now," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. "They're coming in here, I'm sure, with a lot of confidence, and we're excited to have a big crowd here. We're encouraging everybody to have a whole lot of turkey and come out and help us win on Friday."
Missouri's Tyler Badie
Running back Tyler Badie has been the story of Missouri's season. He's putting together one of the program's best season for a running back. His 1,385 rushing yards make him No. 1 in the SEC and No. 4 in the country.
By nearly every measurement, he is the conference's best back; he leads SEC running backs in touchdowns (17), rushing yards per game (125.91), attempts (227), attempts per game (20.64), allpurpose yards (1,725) and all-purpose yards per game (156.8).
But Badie is also a threat in the passing game. He leads the Tigers in catches with 53.
"It doesn't seem like he ever has a bad read," Pittman said. "They use him a lot throwing the ball to him. He's got a really good receiving ability. Just a tough kid and really having a great year."
Quarterback situation
Missouri has done a bit of shuffling at quarterback late in the season, but sophomore Connor Bazelak has mostly remained the starter and should be again against Arkansas.
He suffered a soft tissue injury against Vanderbilt on Oct. 30 and missed the following week against Georgia.
He returned against South Carolina, but after throwing two interceptions, Bazelak was swapped out for redshirt freshman Brady Cook.
After that game, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said that Bazelak, Cook and freshman Tyler Macon would be in open competition for the starting job against Florida. Bazelak won that battle, and Missouri won the game. Expect to see Bazelak start for Missouri, but don't be surprised if Cook or Macon make an appearance.
Defense on the rise
Missouri's defense was a major weakness early on. The Tigers fired defensive line coach Jethro Franklin after a 62-24 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 2. Franklin's successor is Alfred Davis, a former Arkansas defensive lineman.
The Missouri defense has looked much improved in the last two games, especially the run defense. Missouri held both South Carolina and Florida to fewer than 100 rushing yards in the past two weeks.
"They're moving more up front than over the last couple of weeks," Pittman said. "They've always played hard, but to me, it's just about the movement and, depending on if you have a running quarterback or not, some things that they've taken advantage of, certainly, on their defense."
Roster crossover
Missouri fans will recognize some names on Arkansas' roster, and vice versa.
Fayetteville natives Akial Byers and Barrett Banister, both redshirt seniors for Missouri, have been part of the Battle Line Rivalry story for years. This year will be no exception.
Arkansas defensive tackle Markell Utsey and defensive end Tre Williams are transfers from Missouri who came over when former Tigers coach Barry Odom became defensive coordinator for the Razorbacks. In high school, running back Dominique Johnson was originally committed to Missouri before flipping to Arkansas.
Prediction
Arkansas 35, Missouri 28: Arkansas is favored by 14.5 points. But Missouri gives Arkansas fits every year, especially in years it shouldn't. Badie will have a strong finish to the season and the Missouri defense will do its part, but the KJ Jefferson to Treylon Burks connection and the homefield advantage will carry Arkansas to its eighth win.
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.