Saban urges team to maintain intensity against Razorbacks

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For Alabama, the real test comes this week.

After being a slight underdog against Georgia last week, the Crimson Tide used it as motivation to pound the Bulldogs 38-10 in Athens.

But public perception has changed and many around the sport have crowned the Tide as is evident by Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC) being a 16-point favorite over Arkansas (2-3, 1-1 SEC).

Therein lies the challenge. How does Alabama respond when they're not being disrespected? Will the Tide play with the same passion as a heavy favorite as it did as an underdog?

"I think the biggest challenge we have it to maintain intensity," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "People sort of get satisfied, and don't stick with the standard of what you want to be or what you want to accomplish, what your goals are and all that kind of stuff."

Saban's message to the team this week was don't settle. Alabama hosts Arkansas for homecoming on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. And while it's easy to look at the Razorbacks record and scoff at the thought of them having a chance to beat Alabama, Saban made sure to remind the Tide's fans to not look past the Hogs.

"I think everyone should have the mindset that this is going to be a tough game," Saban said. "Get it out of your mind that anybody we play in the SEC is not going to be a tough game. They all are going to be a tough game. Don't have an arrogant attitude that we are better than anybody else; we're not. Until we beat them on the field, we're not. That's the attitude we should have and we all should do it together."

It's easy to see why some would not only look past the Hogs, but any opponent coming into Bryant-Denny Stadium. Since 2008, Alabama has won 92 percent of its home games, which is first in the Football Bowl Subdivision during that span. Alabama is outscoring opponents by 27 points per game (first in the FBS), and have outgained them by 199 yards (second in the FBS).

"Nothing prepares you for this venue," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said during Wednesday's SEC coaches teleconference. "This is one of the best I've ever been in, in college football. Not only do you have a great football team, you have a great crowd, great environment, very good coaching and some really good players on the field."

Beliema's last trip to Bryant-Denny (2013) ended in a 52-0 beating at the hands of the Tide.

Last year in Fayetteville, Arkansas played Alabama tough before the Tide squeaked by with a 14-13 victory. That's more representative of the Razorbacks' program in Saban's eyes.

But for those who didn't get the message about how tough the Hogs can be, Saban pointed to one of Arkansas' game from earlier this year.

"We have a choice. Arkansas is a very good team," Saban said. "We have a lot of respect for them. They lost to Texas A&M in overtime. They had opportunities in the game to win. That's a top 10 team in the country so I view them (Arkansas) as a top 10 team in the country. They're a very physical team, very well coached and we're going to have to play very physical as well as do a do a good job with our execution to be able to beat that."

Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com. On Twitter:@Marq_Burnett.

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 8:55 PM with the headline "Saban urges team to maintain intensity against Razorbacks ."