Sweet Prediction: Hogs 9-3

I just read Dan Brawner of the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune and really like what he has to say about the upcoming season, even if it seems a bit far fetched.

Here’s Dan’s comments on the upcoming season. He predicts the Hogs will go 9-3! Sweet!

Well, it’s still early and things can happen to change the look of a team between now and Sept. 5, but as I did last year, I’m going to make my uneducated picks for the Hogs and Wolves.

To be truthful, I wasn’t even close on either one last year although I toyed with the idea of giving the Wolves a win over Texas A&M….blew that one as well, though.

Anyway, I’ll start with the U of A first then do ASU next week. That way there will be plenty of time to lambast me for my erroneous selections.

Sept. 5 Arkansas 61, Missouri St. 21…No contest really as Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson split time making Petrino’s sophomore debut a rousing success. (1-0, 0-0)

Sept. 19 Arkansas 31, Georgia 24….Michael Smith and DeAnthony Curtis do well in the win, but are overshadowed by a freshman named (Ronnie) Wingo who makes people wonder if it’s time to forget about another performance in ‘05 against, ironically, Georgia by another freshman named McFadden. (2-0, 1-0)

Sept. 26 Alabama 38, Arkansas 35…..The Hogs with Wingo, Joe Adams, D.J. Williams and the rest burn the Tide almost at will, but the Bama offense is just as effective against the Razorback defense. The ghost of the Bear still roams Bryant-Denny Stadium, though, as his beloved team breaks a 35-all tie with seconds left for the win. (2-1, 1-1)

Oct. 3 Arkansas 41, Texas A&M 20…..Although this game is supposedly being played a neutral field, anyone who remembers the old SWC days knows that anywhere in Texas is hostel territory to a Hog. Nevertheless, Joe Kines Aggie defense can’t do a thing with the ground or air Hogs. The defense is still bothersome, though, and may be a problem later in the season. (3-1, 1-1)

Oct. 10 Arkansas 49, Auburn 44….Neither defense shows up as Petrino and Malzahn throw caution to the wind airing the ball out up and down the field in as exciting a game as either team has played in many seasons. (4-1, 2-1)

Oct 17 Florida 35, Arkansas 24…Superman (Tim Tebow) once again saves the day even though the Gators are hardly without talent elsewhere. The loss bursts the Hog’s bubble of being ranked in the top 25 for the first time in a couple of years. (4-2, 2-2)

Oct. 24 Arkansas 41, Ole Miss 14….The Rebels may be the darling of the national media, but not the Hogs as they remember the coach and the fact that he helped, in many minds, steal the win last year. The Razorback let out all stops as they show who the real darlings should be. (5-2, 3-2)

Oct. 31 Arkansas 58, Eastern Michigan 10….Trick or treat time and the Hogs are bowl eligible. (6-2, 3-2)

Nov. 7 Arkansas 34, South Carolina 21….Revenge is sweet as the score is reversed from last year. Wingo once again has a phenomenal game, scoring three TDs and rushing for 192 yards. (7-2, 4-2)

Nov. 14 Arkansas 40, Troy 14…..The cream of the Sunbelt crop gives the Hogs all they can handle as they go into the fourth period down by only six, 20-14. But, then the Razorbacks wake up and put it away. (8-2, 4-2)

Nov 21 Arkansas 57, Miss. St. 21…..Another case of revenge for a pitiful performance in 2008. Hogs go Hog wild by land and by air. (9-2, 5-2)

Nov. 28 LSU 36, Arkansas 35….Another one point win, this time going the other way as the Razorback five game winning streak and chance at a place in the Cotton Bowl goes down the tubes. (9-3, 5-3)

I’m not going to make a bowl prediction even though I’ll have the Razorbacks with more than enough wins to qualify. If I turn out to be right and they do make it to the post season, I’ll stick my neck out then.

Anyway, that’s my opinion this week, for what it’s worth.

DIRECT LINK: http://www.democrattribune.com/story/1555101.html

SEC Preview – It’s All About Florida

Here’s ESPN’s SEC preview. No surprise here. It’s all about the Florida Gators. Can the Razorbacks play a spoiler roll en route to an 8-4 season? I think so!

Click on image above to play ESPN video.

Great Insights on the 2009 Season

Gary Campbell of The Hog Sports Radio has made some excellent observations about the Razorbacks upcoming season. In the article, “Razorbacks Should See MUCH Improvement In 2009,” posted at ArkansasSports360.com Gary agrees with my observation that an improved Hog team means at least an 8-4 season.

We agree that Coach Petrino’s first year was but a glimpse of things to come in Fayetteville, and absent some extraordinary breakdown on defense in a couple of close games, the Hogs would have finished the season 7-5 instead of 5-7. Pretty good considering the entire offensive make-up of the Hogs was changed from 2007 to 2008. Campbell says in part:

“Petrino showed things were changing in Fayetteville, even if the Razorbacks finished 5-7 in 2008.

“Arkansas was a total of about two minutes from finishing 7-5. Breakdowns against Kentucky and Ole Miss salted away the Razorbacks’ chances at going to a bowl in Petrino’s first season.”

Read the entire post here. Direct URL: http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/sports_article.asp?aID=116803.71025.128920

Razorbacks are Good Enough to Go 8-4

The way I look at it, there is only one, possibly two games, on the 2009 Arkansas Razorback schedule that they have absolutely no chance to win. The first is Oct. 17 at Florida and the (possible) second is Nov. 28 at LSU.

Why? Florida is back and back in a big way. An undefeated season is entirely possible for the powerful Gators led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

LSU is another story. Arkansas will have the guns to beat the Tigers, but having won two straight and playing on LSU’s home turf will make it a tough proposition.

That being said, all other games on the Arkansas schedule are definitely winnable. Winnable, but certainly not easy. This is the SEC after all.

Here’s my supposition: Arkansas will unveil Petrino’s high octane offense in all it’s glory in 2009. Coach Petrino has brought all of the right pieces together to create one of the most exciting offenses ever to take the field in Fayetteville.

That being said, question marks still center around the offensive line and its protection of Ryan Mallett, the highly-touted transfer from Michigan. The way I see it, if Mallet gets good protection and plays the football he is capable of, Arkansas will put up a lot — and I mean a lot — of points.

Offense aside, the lowly defense has to get better if Arkansas is to have a chance against the powerful teams in the SEC. However, if the defense can play good enough and the offense is able to put up good numbers, the win column will stack up for the Hogs. Below are my game-by-game predictions:

Sep. 5 Missouri State – Arkansas sputters early, finishes big: 31-14.

Sep. 19 Georgia – Believe it or not, I think the Hogs can win this one, but it’s a shootout: 38-34.

Sep. 26 at Alabama – Arkansas plays hard, but stumbles at ‘Bama, losing 27-14.

Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M @Dallas, TX – Interesting historic rivalry game. Hogs win: 30-21.

Oct. 10 Auburn – Hogs at home equals another win, 28-21.

Oct. 17 at Florida – Gators are unstoppable at home. Arkansas stays close for much of the game, then falls 38-21.

Oct. 24 at Mississippi – Arkansas pays Houston Nutt back for last year’s home loss, 35-28.

Oct. 31 Eastern Michigan – Arkansas wins 45-28.

Nov. 7 South Carolina – Tough game all the way around, Arkansas stumbles 28-27.

Nov. 14 Troy – Another shootout, but SEC strength brings it home 40-28.

Nov. 21 Mississippi State – Arkansas hits its stride and Mallett has his biggest passing game of the year, 48-21.

Nov. 28 at Louisiana State – Hogs can’t beat LSU three years in the row. Good effort, but lose 34-31.

Final Record: 8-4. Bowl bid secured, Petrino is redeemed and everyone looks at an even better 2010!