PETE’S PICK: Nine out of 10 apparently not a 100 percent chance for this week

Nine times out of 10, I might have some creative opening line for an article.

Nine times out of 10, I might pick Arkansas to win games against far superior opponents, even though I know I should not. I cannot help it; I am simply a homer at times. Not to mention, a guy at Alma got a little radical with me over my picking the Hogs to lose to, of all teams, Auburn.

Nine times out of 10, I am infatuated with an Arkansas head coaching search. I will run Google searches 15 to 20 times a day. This time must be the one out of 10. I am pretty certain we already have our guy (or gal, I am not here to pick sides) on campus.

Nine times out of 10, I would say, “Let’s not hire Chad Morris.” Unfortunately, we have already experienced the singular “yes.” I will admit, I was trying my best to be optimistic when we hired Morris away from SMU. I had a bad feeling when he got confused on which car to hop into at the airport, but I tried to stay enthusiastic.

Nine times out of 10, I think Arkansas should run the ball against Auburn. I know, I know… The Tigers have a far better rushing defense than they do passing, however, it is going to be raining … a lot, and I fear cheap interceptions.

Nine times out of 10, I think we need to run a blitz package with the linebackers. The ball is going to be wet, and Auburn is already dead last in the SEC in passing yards. They focus on the rush. I think we can stop them and eliminate them from having big plays.

Nine times out of 10, Arkansas’s defense gives up a big play. In fact, we are one of the worst in the nation in giving up major yards on solo plays. Oddly enough, by the same ratio, Auburn’s offense is one of the worst in the country in their “big play count”. .

Nine times out of 10, Hugh Freeze finds a job that is suited for him and in which he will find success. Apparently, the Plains is not one of those places. Have you seen the guy lately? He is stressed to the max. He looks awful. And I would by hypocritical to judge, but he looks like he needs a one or 10 doses of Celexa STAT.

Nine times out of 10, I would feel sorry for somebody like that, especially Freeze himself, but I have no pity for him after what he stated after the game last year.

Auburn is due for a win and some good calls to go their way. Arkansas is playing far better since Petrino took the reins. I think if these two teams had met up earlier in the season, the Tigers would have won hands down. I now feel Auburn is going to lose yet another game at the hand of the Razorbacks.

Arkansas 34, Auburn 17

Be certain to lis10 to the game Saturday at 11:45 A.M. via HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Random Thoughts

Things have gotten so bad in Auburn that Auburn’s Hugh Freeze has marked his Facebook profile as “Safe from the board of trustees.”

TRIVIA QUESTION: Arkansas used to have a trend where if they would beat Auburn, they would also beat them the next season. The Hogs have a chance to do that this Saturday. Who was coach of the Razorbacks the last time they beat the Tigers back-to-back?

Shout out to two fantastic Razorbacks fans, Katie and Kam Lafferty. If you ever attend a Hogs’ softball game and forget your beer hat for wear when the bases are loaded, these two lovely ladies might be able to come to your rescue! I am hopeful they enjoy the football game this weekend.

TRIVIA ANSWER: The same man who will be calling the shots from the sideline Saturday, Bobby Petrino, was coaching the Hogs when they defeated Auburn in 2011 and 2012.

Let’s get that first SEC win this weekend, boys!

If you see my wife out and about ask her how it feels to be the first-time grandmother. She loves it, but I think she’d also enjoy having some sleep, but that’s an entirely different story.

Go HOGS!!!

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19Georgia11:00 AM
ABC
Sat, Sep 26Tulsa7:00 PM
SECN+
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&MTBA
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeTBA
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltTBA
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bentonville (12)2-01651
2.Conway2-11352
5.Shiloh Christian (3)3-01275
4.Bentonville West (1)3-01094
3.Benton1-1733
6.Bryant (1)0-3696
8.Searcy2-0658
7.Joe T. Robinson2-0647
9.North Little Rock3-0599
10.Fayetteville2-120
Others receiving votes: Greenwood 11, Sylvan Hills 9, Springdale Har-Ber 5, Farmington 5, HS Lakeside 5, Pulaski Academy 4, Mountain Home 3, Greenbrier 2, Sheridan 2, El Dorado 2, Stuttgart 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bentonville (12)2-0801
2.Conway2-1562
5.Shiloh Christian (3)3-0464
4.Bentonville West (1)3-0393
3.Bryant (1)0-3233
Others receiving votes: North Little Rock 10, Pulaski Academy 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Benton (9)1-1731
Searcy (8)2-0732
3.Sylvan Hills2-1373
4.El Dorado3-024
5.Mountain Home2-1235t
Others receiving votes: Sheridan 13, Van Buren 10, Jonesboro 2.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (14)2-0811
2.Greenwood (2)1-2522
3.Greenbrier2-0433
5.Farmington3-0334
4.Hot Springs Lakeside (1)2-124
Others receiving votes: LR Parkview 12, Valley View 6, Jacksonville 4.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (12)3-0721
2.Elkins (3)2-0512
3.Nashville (1)3-0493
4.Gosnell3-0185
5.Gravette (1)2-017
Arkadelphia2-117
Others receiving votes: Ozark 12, Fountain Lake 7, Hamburg 7, Bauxite 3, Lonoke 1, Pottsville 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Fordyce (10)1-1671
2.Bismarck (1)2-1444
3.Rivercrest (1)2-036
4.Smackover (2)2-025
5.Glen Rose1-2233
Others receiving votes: Mansfield 21, Prescott (3) 18, Walnut Ridge 14, Palestine-Wheatley 3, Quitman 2, Newport 1, Cedarville 1.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (14)3-0811
2.Junction City1-2401
3.Baptist Prep (1)2-0313
4.Bigelow2-117
5.Gurdon2-1135
Others receiving votes: Earle (1) 12, East Poinsett County (1) 12, Hector 12, Dierks 11, Poyen 8, Hazen 6, Des Arc 6, Marked Tree 3, Carlisle 2, Bearden 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Cedar Ridge (5)3-0252
2.Corning (6)3-0221
3.Magazine (1)1-07
Woodlawn1-173
Others receiving votes: Izard County 5, Rose Bud 4, Strong 3.