After an emotional loss to Ole Miss last week, Arkansas faces an up and coming Tulsa team this Saturday.
When the Hogs scheduled Tulsa its football team wasn’t ranked 18th in the nation and wasn’t known for a potent offense. Gus Malzahn, Tulsa offensive coordinator, may have more to prove by beating Arkansas than Houston Nutt did this past weekend.
After all, it was Malzahn’s riff with Nutt that resulted in him leaving as offensive coach and becoming offensive coach at Tulsa. Nutt may be gone, but because of Malzahn’s Arkansas ties, I’m certain would like to make the statement, “Hey, look what you already could have!”
While 8-0 Tulsa is relatively untested so far this year, I predict they will come out of Fayetteville with a win. It may be a close game, but I think the Hogs will lose.
Now for the real story. I believe a loss to Tulsa, coupled with the loss to Ole Miss, will take it’s toll on Petrino. So far fans have for the most part have rallied around their new coach, but I believe some fans who expected Petrino to do miracles this year, will start some heated criticism.
I believe this criticism will heat up because SEC teams are supposed to beat lesser out-of-conference teams like Tulsa, even in rebuilding years.
It will be interesting, particularly in defeat.
Game preview on ESPN.
