In anticipation of this weekend's game, HawgBeat compared the projected starting lineups for Arkansas and Missouri using the players' star ratings as recruits and their Pro Football Focus grades from this season.
We also did a side-by-side statistical comparison of the two teams using their numbers so far in 2021.
Stat Comparison - Missouri | Arkansas (FBS rank, out of 130 teams)
Offense
Scoring: 30.8 (50th) | 31.3 (48th)
Total yards: 420.8 (53rd) | 442.4 (29th)
Passing: 248.5 (53rd) | 220.1 (75th)
Rushing: 172.4 (59th) | 222.3 (13th)
Third downs: 44.1% (38th) | 37.6% (82nd)
Sacks allowed/game: 1.46 (t-24th) | 2.00 (t-51st)
Turnovers: 11 (t-25th) | 8 (t-5th)
Defense
Scoring: 34.7 (118th) | 24.6 (53rd)
Total yards: 447.3 (109th) | 376.4 (62nd)
Passing: 211.9 (42nd) | 228.7 (66th)
Rushing: 235.4 (125th) | 147.6 (65th)
Third downs: 44.7% (114th) | 32.5% (16th)
Sacks/game: 2.36 (t-57th) | 2.09 (t-69th)
Turnovers forced: 15 (t-60th) | 13 (t-86th)
Star Comparison (using Rivals ratings)
*Missouri doesn't have an official depth chart, so we used previous starters and snap counts to determine the listed starters. The group includes Parker and Evans, who are considered "questionable" for the Arkansas game.
**There is an "or" listed at nickel for Arkansas. We went with Brooks because he started the last game.
Breakdown
Arkansas: 15
Missouri: 5
Tied: 2
Pro Football Focus Comparison (using season grades)
Team Grades (Missouri | Arkansas)
Overall: 81.4 | 83.9
Offense: 79.3 | 81.5
Passing: 68.9 | 75.8
Rushing: 85.3 | 86.7
Receiving: 69.5 | 68.0
Pass blocking: 74.5 | 86.3
Run blocking:74.2 | 76.3
Defense: 68.6 | 73.8
Run defense: 58.0 | 74.2
Tackling: 60.4 | 71.7
Pass rush: 79.2 | 78.7
Coverage: 69.2 | 66.8
Special teams: 83.8 | 75.0
