Jeff Dooley Article

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Sugar Bowl Arkansas Razorbacks' weakness: Rushing yards per game. There's no question that Arkansas' passing game is one of the nation's best, earning top-five status in both passing efficiency and passing yardage (the only team in the country to do so). And while it has improved over the course of the season, the team's running game is lacking, averaging only 151 yards per game on the ground (65th in the country). It could be particularly tough for the Razorbacks to move the football on the ground against a Buckeyes rush defense that is third in the nation despite having to face elite running teams Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. The Bucks' pass efficiency D is no joke, either, ranking fourth in the country, but Ryan Mallett will be the toughest challenge they've faced. The other two highly efficient QBs OSU has gone up against this year, Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien and Iowa's Ricky Stanzi, have been effective against the Buckeyes (and neither one is on Mallett's level).

Ohio State Buckeyes' weakness: Sacks allowed per game. The Buckeyes have let opponents get to Terrelle Pryor 1.83 times per game this season, and while this isn't a horrific stat (OSU is 54th in the country in sacks allowed), this has to be an area of concern for Ohio State's offense when facing the Razorbacks' D, which is fifth in the country in averaging more than three sacks per game. This is the strength of Arkansas' defense, which has been exposed at times this season, particularly against the run. Getting to Pryor and potentially forcing him into mistakes (he's tossed 11 INTs this year) will be key for the Razorbacks in this one.

Overall: Much has been made about OSU's struggles against SEC teams in the past, but the Buckeyes actually hold a significant statistical advantage in this one, especially on the defensive end. In three critical defensive categories (scoring D, rush D, pass efficiency D), Ohio State is third, third and fourth, respectively, in the nation. Mallett and Arkansas will test the Bucks' defense with a passing game better than anything it has seen all season long, and the Razorbacks will really need to exploit their advantage in this area if they are to pull off the win.

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