Missouri vs. Arkansas Recap: Jamal Roberts Leads Missouri Rout

Missouri beat Arkansas 34-10. Arkansas turned the ball over four times, and Missouri cashed in early when Darris Smith returned a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter. Missouri led only 13-7 at halftime, then pulled away with two quick third-quarter touchdowns. Jamal Roberts carried 23 times for 138 yards and scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Missouri over 22.5 team points (-350 FanDuel / -370 DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Missouri had scored 23+ in 8 of its last 10 games, averaging 30.4, and Arkansas had allowed 23+ in 7 of its last 10. With Missouri -10, the market implied about 29.3 for the Tigers. - What happened: Missouri finished with 34, 11.5 over the line. It got there in the third quarter. Austin Simmons hit Donovan Olugbode for a 15-yard score at 10:53 to make it 20-7, and after an Arkansas fumble, Roberts ran in from 2 yards at 9:47 to make it 27-7. Blake Craig chipped in field goals from 31 and 53 yards. - Worth watching: Missouri ran for 211 yards on 35 carries. A team that can run like that and also scores off turnovers gives a team total more than one path to the number.

ALT: Over 38.5 total points (-393 DraftKings / -330 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Games involving Missouri and Arkansas had cleared 38.5 in 17 of their last 20 combined, and 12 of 14 this season. - What happened: The game finished with 44 points, 5.5 over the line, but this one needed the fourth quarter. A Max Gilbert 32-yard field goal made it 27-10, still short of the number. After the teams traded fumbles, Missouri went 18 yards in four plays, with Simmons finding Roberts for a 10-yard touchdown at 7:19. That put the total at 44. - Worth watching: Missouri supplied most of the scoring here, with help from a defensive touchdown. When one side does most of the scoring, a game total leans hard on that offense, so it is worth checking how much each team tends to contribute.

How the game played out

Arkansas moved the ball at times but could not finish. KJ Jackson threw for 229 yards and Antonio Jordan caught 7 passes for 106 yards, but Arkansas ran for only 59 yards on 36 attempts and lost the ball four times. A 20-play, 62-yard drive in the third quarter took 9:51 and ended in a field goal. Missouri also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Trends to watch

• Roberts handled 23 carries plus 3 catches. That workload makes his rushing yards and touchdown props worth a look when Missouri is favored.
• Missouri's defense forced four turnovers, including an interception by Trajen Greco and the fumble return by Smith. Takeaways set up short fields: Missouri's last touchdown drive covered just 18 yards.
• Arkansas threw for 229 yards but ran for only 59, so its offense ran through Jackson's arm in this one.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more on these markets, see our explainers on the total and the alt line, or visit the college football hub.