SEC Schedule a Day: Arkansas

Arkansas is first up in our preview of all the SEC teams. They are going to be a little bit quicker this year and I'm going to do a little less research. But I'm pretty sure I'll be as deadly accurate as always. I'm kinda like a lazy version of Phil Steele. Accept I don't do exhaustive research and look at stats and my predictions are more accurate. You may remember that last year I correctly predicted the divisional winners and tabbed LSU to win it all. My one regret was missing out on the Kentucky bandwagon. On to the preview...

Somehow Houston Nutt left Arkansas, Bobby Petrino left the Falcons midseason to take the Razorback coaching job, McFadden and Felix Jones bolted early for the NFL. Coupled with 2007 offseason, it seems like Arkansas makes more news January through August than they do all season.

8/30 Western Illinois

The Leathernecks? That's kind of a cool mascot. Arkansas wins.

9/06 @ Lousiana Monroe

It'd be really embarrassing for an SEC team to lose to La-Monroe. How would you possibly explain that to your fans? Wait. What's that? Oh that's shameful. Sorry bama, I had forgotten. The Warhawks will have just played Auburn the week before and should be low on energy and optimism. Razorback continue to work on switching offenses and building up a young defense in their way to victory. This is listed as a road game. However it will be played in Little Rock. So it's not like when Miami played at Louisiana Tech.

9/13 @ Texas

I wouldn't predict Petrino pulling a Houston Nutt and sporting the upside down horns when this one is over. I predict pain. The Razorbacks are just woefully overmatched in this game. They would have had a much better shot in either of the last two years. Their only hope is Petrino pulling a Mark Richt on Will Muschamp's defense. Offensive masterminds seem to find ways to exploit man coverage. Unfortunately for Arkansas, Casey Dick is their quarterback. Horns over Hogs in this one.

9/20 bama

Both teams will have had a major test with out of conference games. Though I don't expect either team to win those match ups. So this is the first chance to take a home an important victory. If Petrino can convince himself to play a ball control ground oriented game he has a serious shot. The bama defense definitely has it's weaknesses this year. It should be a low scoring game and basically the complete opposite of last year's 41-38 thriller. I'd say the winner maybe gets 17 points and I think bama is the team to do that.

10/4 Florida

I guess the bright side is that you get an off week heading into this game. The downside? Arkansas has zero chance in this game. Florida will run, pass, and in general rack up yards and points on the Arky defense. Bloodbath.

10/11 @ Auburn

Tough back to back games for the Razorbacks. The Petrino/Tuberville matchup will be draw the media's attention for the week. And for good reason, because that's actually a story line. The game itself will lack any drama. Auburn will win big.

10/18 @ Kentucky

This game will have a different feel from Petrino's previous visits to Lexington. He doesn't quite have the offensive firepower yet that he had with Louisville. And the Wildcats shouldn't be as hyped for this game. In fact either team should really be grappling for what could one of their only SEC wins for the year. This should be a painful game to watch. Just dreadful. I can't think of a compelling reason to watch. I'll give it to Kentucky because of home field advantage. Maybe they make a special teams play to give them the W.

10/25 Ole Miss

Did I mention that the media would focus on the Tuberville/Petrino matchup? Well it won't be anything compared to the state of Arkansas' reaction to Houston Nutt bringing the Rebels to Fayetteville. I guess Spurrier has shown no problems facing his alma mater and former coaching stop. I reckon Nutt will do the same though not because of his mental fortitude. Nutt gets to face his old recruits with Orgeron's recruits at his disposal. Advantage Ole Miss.

11/01 Tulsa

The Golden Hurricane make the short trip over to Fayetteville and the Razorbacks are thankful. Arkansas makes it close but pulls out the much needed victory.

@ South Carolina

Of the constant East vs. West battles, this matchup is constantly the least intriguing to me. Miss St. and Kentucky is a close second but at least their borders are somewhat close. If they both had fully stocked teams it'd be a blast to see Spurrier face off against Petrino. But the OBC has been on the job a bit longer and has more talent. The Cocks prevail over Casey Dick. I'm not above it.

@ Miss State

I'm getting tired of writing this preview, so I imagine Arkansas' players, coaches, and fans will already be focusing on the future instead of this dreadful season. I don't think Miss State will have quite the season they did last year but they should be able to pull out this victory at home.

LSU

I can't figure out why Arkansas keeps playing this matchup in Little Rock. It's essentially their biggest matchup every year and they waste with an off campus setting. They must be locked into some sort of contract. Anyways, LSU's QB could be a Dartmouth transfer and still win this game. I'm assuming that Harvard has a better football program than Dartmouth. Should I have said Wellesley?

SEC: 0-8
Overall: 3-9

Rough year for Arkansas.