Arkansas vs. Texas A&M Recap: Aggies Run Away, Reed Under Cashes

Texas A&M beat Arkansas 34-7 at home. The Aggies scored touchdowns on their first two drives, the first one set up by a Dalton Brooks interception on Arkansas' opening possession. Arkansas answered with a Chris Marshall touchdown late in the first quarter and did not score again. A&M ran 49 times for 231 yards, held the ball for 38:08 and outgained Arkansas 401 to 214. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Texas A&M ML (-625 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: A&M was a 14-point home favorite, and Arkansas was without DL Jamonta Waller, DB John Howse IV and TE Maddox Lassiter.
• What happened: A&M led 14-0 before Arkansas scored and 24-7 at halftime, after a 57-yard David Olano field goal with 2 seconds left in the half. Arkansas' best drive after the break went 72 yards in 12 plays and reached the A&M 1, but a fourth-down run lost 2 yards and the Aggies took over on downs.
• Worth watching: At -625 this is a price to pair with other plays, not one to lean on alone.

ALT: Texas A&M -6.5 (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was -13.5 and the SportsGrid model had A&M by 11. With top WR Mario Craver a game-time decision, the alt was a safer way in than the full number.
• What happened: A&M won by 27, 20.5 points clear of the alt. Craver played but caught 1 pass for 10 yards, and the Aggies leaned on the run instead. KJ Edwards had 66 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 carries. His 3-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter made it 31-7, one play after a 54-yard catch by Kiotti Armstrong to the Arkansas 3.
• Worth watching: When a favorite's top receiver is uncertain, taking points off the spread lets you stay with the side without needing the full number.

Marcel Reed under 231.5 passing yards (-114 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Reed came in with 738 passing yards through four games, about 185 a game. WR Terry Bussey was out for the season, Craver was questionable, and a two-touchdown home favorite should lean on the run late.
• What happened: Reed completed 13 of 19 passes for 170 yards, 61.5 under the line. Nearly a third of that came on the one throw to Armstrong. A&M ran 49 times against 19 Reed pass attempts, and Reed carried it 9 times himself for 66 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
• Worth watching: Reed's legs take snaps away from his arm. When A&M is expected to control the game on the ground, his passing number is worth a look.

ALT: Chris Marshall 60+ receiving yards (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: Marshall was clearing 60 by a wide margin at 118 yards a game, and he is KJ Jackson's clear No. 1 target.
• What happened: Marshall caught 7 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, 16.5 yards over the line. He had 59 yards in the first quarter alone, capped by a 26-yard touchdown catch with 24 seconds left in the quarter. A 10-yard catch on that 72-yard drive in the third quarter put him over. He accounted for 76 of Arkansas' 111 passing yards.
• Worth watching: Marshall caught 7 of Jackson's 13 completions. When one receiver gets that big a share, an alt well below his average leaves room for a slow game.

How the game played out

Arkansas' first drive ended on a Brooks pick, and A&M turned the short field into a 2-yard Carsyn Baker touchdown run. Edwards added a 20-yard score before Arkansas got on the board. A&M went 9 of 16 on third downs, and Olano also hit from 50 yards early in the fourth quarter.

Trends to watch

• A&M spread the carries around: Rueben Owens II had 14, Baker 12, Edwards 11 and Reed 9.
• Arkansas ran only 22 times, and Jackson averaged 4.4 yards per attempt on 25 throws.
• Both teams were flagged 7 times, and A&M's penalties cost 70 yards.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these markets? Read up on the alt line, the moneyline and player props, or see more at the college football hub.