Predictions: No. 12 LSU vs. Arkansas in Week 4 Battle

Tigers take on the Razorbacks in their SEC home opener, KJ Jefferson and Co. come to town.

Brian Kelly and the No. 12 ranked LSU Tigers will host Arkansas in Week 4 with an opportunity to continue trending in the right direction after back-to-back victories.

It'll be a 6 p.m. kickoff for Jayden Daniels and Co. as the Tigers prepare to carry their Week 3 momentum into their fourth contest of the season.

Here's what to know about the Razorbacks ahead of the matchup, three Tigers to monitor, best bets for Saturday and a final score prediction:

What To Know About Arkansas:

The KJ Jefferson Show

Arkansas signal-caller KJ Jefferson is undoubtedly one of the top players in the SEC, and as he prepares for a matchup against Jayden Daniels, it sets the stage for a classic in Tiger Stadium between the top two quarterbacks in the conference.

For Jefferson, it’s his power that makes him so talented. He can lower his shoulder and plow through defenders with his rushing attack but also has the ability to drop back in the pocket and deliver a laser to a receiver downfield.

Through three games, Jefferson is 55-for-77 on passing attempts with 629 yards and six touchdowns. He’s been a reliable resource for the Razorbacks despite his weapons on the outside still looking to hit their stride.

The Tigers must contain Jefferson and limit his explosive plays on Saturday in Death Valley. One of the top signal-callers in the country, it’s of the utmost importance to keep him in check.

WR1 Could Cause Problems: Andrew Armstrong 

With the Arkansas rushing attack remaining a work in progress, they’ve begun to utilize their outside weapons, namely WR1 Andrew Armstrong. 

He’s up to 197 yards on the season with 18 receptions and three touchdowns. The leading receiver in every category, a star is emerging and this LSU secondary will be put to the test against Armstrong.

At 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, Armstrong is a length wideout who can reach the ball at its highest point while fighting off defenders. As he prepares to take on an LSU secondary that is still looking for that ideal rotation, the Tigers will need to figure things out sooner rather than later against Armstrong before he exploits the defensive backs. 

Three Tigers To Watch For:

Brian Thomas Jr. - Wide Receiver

It was LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers who stole the show against Mississippi State in Week 3 with 13 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns, but fast forward to Week 4 and it will be Thomas who must step up to the plate.

Thomas shined through the first two games for LSU. It was an eye-opening performance against Florida State in the season opener and he carried his momentum into Week 3 against Grambling with an impressive first half.

With SEC play in full swing, the Tigers must see Thomas assert himself as a clearcut WR2 behind Nabers and continue producing at a high level. As the Tigers take on a Razorbacks squad with questions surrounding the secondary, it’s imperative Thomas takes advantage of his chances with Jayden Daniels evolving as a passer.

Mekhi Wingo - Defensive Line

Mekhi Wingo has arrived and is showing no signs of slowing down. With Maason Smith out for the season opener against Florida State, Wingo picked up the slack and then some against a talented Seminoles offensive line.

Through weeks two and three it was the same story. Wingo is quickly putting together an All-SEC type season for the Tigers, and with SEC play ramping up, it’s imperative he stays on the same trajectory.

He’ll face off against a mobile quarterback in KJ Jefferson on Saturday. A signal-caller who can utilize his legs in a variety of ways, Wingo must remain alert at all times against a player of his caliber. Look for Wingo to string together another impressive day for the Tigers and their defensive line.

Sai’vion Jones - Defensive End

Sticking with the defensive line, veteran Sai’vion Jones has been a bright spot for this group through the first few games. After adding over 30 pounds since the end of last season, Jones is looking physically prepared for a breakout season. It’s started through the first few weeks and has the chance to take shape against the Razorbacks.

A twitchy, powerful pass rusher, Jones will need to be on his A-game on Saturday against the Razorbacks with Jefferson at the helm. LSU must win in the trenches in order to come out on top against Arkansas and it will start with both Wingo and Jones.

Best Bets 

Betting Lines:

• Money line: Arkansas Razorbacks (+625) vs. LSU Tigers (-950)
• Point spread: Arkansas Razorbacks +17.5 (-110) vs. LSU Tigers -17.5 (-110)
• Game total: Over 55 (-108) vs. Under 56 (-112)

Best Bets? Our DraftKings Sportsbook analysts have you covered:

LSU opened as a heavy favorite for this game against the Razorbacks and look to be worth considering on Saturday night to win in a blowout. The Tigers are averaging 45.7 points per game, and while this is inflated by a 72-point output against Grambling in Week 2, they still look to have one of the better offenses in the country. The Tigers are led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has 976 passing yards through three games and nine touchdowns to one interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Because the Tigers are proving to be a top offense in the country and Arkansas has recently had some defensive issues, such as allowing BYU to score 38 points in their Week 2 loss, backing the Tigers to win and cover at home will be our best bet.

Arkansas vs. No. 12 LSU Prediction: LSU Tigers -17.5 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Score Prediction: LSU 38, Arkansas 17