Arkansas has flashed the potential to beat anyone a few times in Sam Pittman’s tenure as coach; however, in each of the last two years, the Razorbacks have fizzled out in November. Now, the pressure is on as the output needs to approach the potential. In our Arkansas season predictions, our analysts go in-depth on every game to give our opinions on the Razorbacks’ potential in 2023.
Arkansas Season Predictions: Predicting the Game-by-Game Results
Using groupthink, College Football Network analysts have painstakingly gone through every game for every team in the SEC and across the country.
Picking these games straight up with a projected score using the rosters as up-to-date as the last spring practice, the Arkansas season predictions indicate what fans can possibly expect for the Razorbacks in 2023.
Week 1 — Arkansas vs. Western Carolina: Win, 46-6 (1-0)
Arkansas has a favorable schedule in 2023. The Razorbacks have a “soft opening” of sorts as they play FCS Western Carolina out of the gate.
The Catamounts finished in the middle of the road in a strong Southern Conference last season, but Arkansas is simply too physical for this to be a close game. It will be interesting to see what the wide receiver rotation looks like early in the season, as quarterback KJ Jefferson loses a couple of his top targets from last season.
MORE: SEC Week 1 Predictions
Week 2 — Arkansas vs. Kent State: Win, 43-14 (2-0)
While technically this is a step up in level, none of our analysts believe Week 2’s results will be any different than Week 1’s. Traditionally a contender in the MAC, Kent State is expected to have a down year, in what could be one of its worst in the last decade. Again, expect some of the backups to play in this one, and we should have a better idea of the depth of this Razorback team.
Week 3 — Arkansas vs. BYU: Win, 33-19 (3-0)
When this game was originally scheduled, it had the makings of a top-tier matchup. However, the Cougars are expected to have a down year, and if I were a handicapper, I’d likely give the Razorbacks a two-touchdown spread at home. While some of our analysts believe this will be a closer game, we all have the Razorbacks winning at home.
Week 4 — Arkansas @ LSU: Loss, 27-33 (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Week 4 marks the first time the Razorbacks go on the road and their SEC opener. LSU head coach Brian Kelly has the Tigers on the right path, and with both teams possibly undefeated entering this game, this is probably a night game in Death Valley.
This is a matchup of two of the top quarterbacks in the SEC, and our analysts were on the same page, all picking LSU by a touchdown.
Week 5 — Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Neutral): Win, 31-28 (4-1, 1-1 SEC)
As is often the case with neutral site, in-conference matchups, the variety of outcomes here is extensive. Our analysts are strongly divided.
Hodgkinson is giving this one easily to the Razorbacks. I have the Aggies by 11. As the tie-breaking vote, Cam Mellor has the Razorbacks squeaking this out by a field goal.
Week 6 — Arkansas @ Ole Miss: Loss, 26-29 (4-2, 1-2 SEC)
In its third game away from home in as many weeks, Arkansas heads to Oxford to play Ole Miss. While our experts, in general, are higher on the Razorbacks, all three of us predicted the Rebels by a field goal in this one.
SEC fatigue is a real thing, and we can’t discount how teams often struggle during a rough stretch in the schedule. This one is certainly getable, but true road games are difficult to win, and Arkansas will be in desperate need of a bye week by this point.
Week 7 — Arkansas @ Alabama: Loss, 28-29 (4-3, 1-3 SEC)
As the score suggests, one of us picked the Razorbacks to pull off the upset over the Crimson Tide. Last season, Sam Pittman’s squad had a few unfortunate bounces that made the Alabama game look more lopsided than it really was.
I think the Razorbacks are one of the teams that match up well with the Crimson Tide, as the Razorbacks have one of the top quarterback-running back tandems in the country. To pull off the upset, the Razorbacks will need Rocket Sanders to have a huge game, something he is very capable of doing.
The others picked ‘Bama in a close game.
Week 8 — Arkansas vs. Mississippi State: Win, 29-27 (5-3, 2-3 SEC)
Arkansas finally returns home in Week 8 to host the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In a matchup of two of the top quarterbacks in the SEC, our experts all have this as a close, higher-scoring game.
This is the last game before the bye week, and a win could give Arkansas plenty of momentum heading into an easier end-of-year schedule.
Week 10 — Arkansas @ Florida: Win, 30-25 (6-3, 3-3 SEC)
Arkansas’s final away game of the 2023 season comes against Florida in early November. The Gators may struggle this season on offense, and the Razorbacks’ physicality may give them an edge in this one. One of our analysts did pick the Gators, as Hodgkinson does not like the Razorbacks in true road games.
Jefferson’s legs could be an x-factor here, as Florida’s defense often struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks.
Week 11 — Arkansas vs. Auburn: Win, 28-27 (7-3, 4-3 SEC)
While Vegas has set the Razorbacks’ over-under at 6.5, it’s possible that Arkansas is favored in as many as eight or nine games. Inevitably, that means they’ll have several toss-up games, and have another one against Auburn late in the season.
Auburn is a true wild card, as Hugh Freeze has had plenty of success in the SEC, but also inherits a team that was truly terrible last season. I have the Tigers upsetting Arkansas here, but my two colleagues each gave it to the Razorbacks.
Week 12 — Arkansas vs. FIU: Win, 48-8 (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
On paper, this looks like yet another lopsided non-conference game. FIU is one of if not the worst teams in the FBS. Expect the backups to play early and often in this one, and Arkansas rests for its season finale against Missouri.
MORE: SEC Weekly Football Schedule
Week 13 — Arkansas vs. Missouri: Win, 31-19 (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
This season, Arkansas continues its tradition of playing on Black Friday. Last season, the Razorbacks limped to the finish, dropping a close one to Missouri. None of our experts are particularly high on the Tigers, as they should once again struggle on offense. I’m expecting the Razorback defense to give quarterback Brady Cook issues, allowing the Razorbacks to pull away late.