Do we finally get a chance to see ‘real’ Razorbacks this week?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas is 2-1, but you don’t find an awful lot of confidence brimming over talking to fans over that. It’s almost like they keep waiting on something to happen … one way or the other.

With SEC play starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman is proably wanting to find out whether he’s got Jekyll or Hyde with this team. Even he probably doesn’t know right now, despite his repeated stated belief he’s confident. What else can he say?

Besides, he’s probably still trying to find a way to explain why a 37-27 win over UAB last week is not a loss. The way Hogs’ fans have treated it this week, you’d think they were on the short end of that thing. It was a win.

Arkansas still has questions, though, and a lot of them. Most of it is about depth.

They do have some good starting players and are a couple of players of quality depth at some positions. Not in the line, though, on either side of the ball. There is no other positon where you want to get a lot of players stacked up because folks are goig to get banged up.

While Taylen Green is showing signs of being a solid quarterback, he does have this habit of throwing to one wide receiver (Andrew Armstrong) more than anybody else on the team or taking off and running.

Now that he’s getting to SEC copetition, the speed and size of the linebackers on the other side may make that a little more difficult. It also could lead to another problem that is bad luck to even talk about and we really don’t know what the other folks can do in an SEC team.

Now that is an interesting subject because it’s actually the first SEC game for Green or any other quarterback on the Hogs’ roster that gets into the game. Or the top two running backs, Ja’Quinden Jackson and Rodney Hill or the third guy, freshman Braylen Hill.

Get the point? A lot of youth and a questionable secondary behind an offensive line not particularly inspiring confidence protecting Green leads to a lot of questions in search of an answer. We’ll start getting those Saturday afternoon.

Now at Auburn, the place where crazy things tend to happen over the year, we’ll see what the Razorbacks have against a team with maybe even more questions right now and a quarterback making his second collegiate start.

Auburn 31, Arkansas 29

Florida at Mississippi State: Despite the fact Pete thinks this is a loser leaves town type of game he’s not understanding they can’t buy out a coach with livestock these days. Jeff Lebby’s only three games into his tenure and that wouldn’t get anybody fired. On the other hand, Billy Napier knows the wolves are outside his door, but that simply isn’t going to help him on this one. Just flipped a coin on this one. Mississippi State 31, Florida 27

Ohio at Kentucky: One of several good grief games. The Wildcats could have a hangover from the missed opportunity against Georgia last week It might be a little closer than the 19.5-point spread, but shouldn’t be that close. Again, though, let’s not forget what Northen Illinois showed us against Notre Dame. Kentucky 29, Ohio 17

UCLA at LSU (16): The Bruins are now playing in the Big Ten and Los Angeles, but I’m not exactly certain they know much more than that. A once-proud football program has nosedived the last few years and there’s not really an answer to the tailspin. LSU has actually been playing below their talent level or nearly going 0-2 against the USC schools in college football isn’t showing us everything. They should right the ship for this one. LSU 42, UCLA 14

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Vanderbilt at Missouri (7): I’m still waiting for an explanation from some people who didn’t think Missouri would really competitive in SEC football for over a decade would explain to me a couple of division titles and now in the Top 10. As they say on sports radio, “I’ll hang up and listen.” The Commodores haven’t really played anybody that good, but Missouri has far more talent. Missouri 31, Vanderbilt 13

Akron at South Carolina: This one actually made me yawn. Unless the Gamecocks just fall into a coma, this is one of a primarily boring weekend across the league. South Carolina 48, Akron 3

Bowling Green at (25) Texas A&M: Another example of the quality we have going on with majority of games this week. The Aggies played Notre Dame close, but couldn’t beat them. Northern Illinois did a week later. It’s been that kind of year across college football and coaches don’t panic about it because it’s a good bet one or two losses doesn’t automatically rule you out of the playoffs now. A&M has better players and more of them. Texas A&M 29, Bowling Green 7

(6) Tennessee at (15) Oklahoma: While a lot of Arkansas fans still want to believe the Sooners aren’t really worthy of being in the SEC, this OU team is better than most people think. The Vols are going to be walking into hostile territory and OU is probably going to bring out every legend that can still walk for this SEC home opener. I’ll give Pete a shot at picking up a win in this one. Oklahoma 44, Tennessee 42

Georgia Southern at (5) Ole Miss: Here we go again. The most talked-about aspect of this game is both coaches were fired by USC. Lane Kiffin said earlier this week he found out about Clay Helton from his dad, former Razorbacks defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and they’ve known each other for years. Now they meet on the field and the Rebels have not given up a touchdown while lighting up scoreboards in three games. Ole Miss 42, Georgia Southern 9

ULM at (1)Texas: Pete nailed this one, giving it the “Good Grief” game this week.The Warhawks will go and play anybody for the right amount of money. The headline on this one is already about the first start for Arch Manning at quarterback for the Longhorns. Why do I keep having this nagging feeling he’ll be the quarterback when they play the Razorbacks in November. No idea yet whether that’s good or bad for the Hogs. Texas 63, ULM 7