Betting trends to watch for in Arkansas-Texas A&M rivalry game

When Arkansas faces Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic Rivalry this Saturday, plenty of people betting on the game will be looking for trends. Luckily, ESPN has got them covered.

The matchup between the No. 7 Aggies and No. 16 Razorbacks is a big one at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Arkansas hasn’t won in the past nine meetings, but has its best chance in a long time to do so. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST.

A&M enters the game as 5.5-point favorites, but is 0-3 against the spread under Jimbo Fisher (since 2017) when playing Arkansas. The Aggies are 19-10 overall as a favorite under Fisher.

Meanwhile Arkansas is 3-0 against the spread this season and 9-3 in its past 12 games as an underdog. However, it has also lost each of its last 10 games against top-10 opponents.

The Razorback defense has looked impressive early and will hope to continue to put pressure on quarterback Zach Calzada, making just his second career start.

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher lost his starter Haynes King against Colorado two weeks ago but to date has been impressed with his replacement, Zach Calzada.

Calzada finished the game against Colorado going 18-for-38 with 183 yards and an 18-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Isaiah Spiller with 2:41 remaining in the game. Last week against the Lobos in his first career start, Calzada was 19-for-33 with 275 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His head coach took note of his positive progression. 

“I thought he played a very solid football game last week,” Fisher said Monday. “He had one mistake with a pick, but he made three touchdown throws, a couple of them really outstanding, was good on third down, managed the game. I thought played a very solid game, is progressing very well. He has the ability to beat you with his legs and he can definitely get the ball to all parts of the field with his arm.”

King is expected to be out at least a few more weeks after surgery for a fractured ankle. The inexperience of Calzada should also be factored into betting trends for the Arkansas-Texas A&M game.