We’re back for yet another football season and the excitement around Arkansas football right now is about as boring as that first phrase.
Even new coach Ryan Silverfield waiting until a couple of weeks before the opener to announce the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks couldn’t help. He went with KJ Jackson, which surprised absolutely no one.
With more new faces than used to be on scholarship, you might want to have a roster handy.
Yes, I”m aware what the coaches have said about these players but I also know how they tend to find out they don’t look as good against other SEC players as they have in practices.
The Hogs shouldn’t have a problem with this one, though. Just don’t read too much into even a blowout. Chad Morris won his first game, 55-20, over Eastern Illinois and only won three more over two seasons.
North Alabama isn’t as good as Eastern Illinois was then. Unless Arkansas helps them.
The only way there’s big news from this game is if it looks like it’s not going to be something like that at halftime. There will be some questions raised then.
It’s all rosey for Silverfield right now. Let this one be close at halftime and watch how fast it changes. That’s not a prediction, either, but I know how the fate of the program often hangs on every snap for some fans.
The Razorbacks should have guys making plays. Just remember they’re going to start seeing guys way bigger, a lot faster and probably a little stronger starting next week against Utah.
Then it will get brutal starting SEC play against Georgia in the Razorback Stadium opener.
Maybe the biggest concern for the game this week is the Hogs needing to avoid getting anyone hurt. Considering they’ve already lost two guys for the season (including a punter) to injuries before the end of fall camp, the luck needs to change.
In this opening game, Arkansas won’t need any luck. Hogs 52, North Alabama 6
Pete Morgan and I are renewing the HitThatLine Picks Contest that is sponsored by absolutely no one and there’s no money on the line. Keep that in mind if you’re wagering any of your cash on a game based on our picks.
Games already played
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at (25) Missouri – This one wasn’t close and after the first quarter everybody knew what was going to happen. Even in some mediocre year for the Razorbacks, winning this one was easy. Mizzou by 40
UTEP at (10) Oklahoma – Read the description above and multiply by 2 or 3 and you have this one because it wasn’t close after the first possession. Sooners by 51
Good Grief games
As Pete pointed out in his article, this is something he picked up on me using that phrase a lot. This week is the prototype because there’s a bunch across the SEC this week.
East Carolina at (13) Alabama – The most confusing to some people that flunked geography in school will be there’s not a state called East Carolina, despite there being a north and south version of the same state. It will only be informatve if the Crimson Tide stumble in some areas. Tide by 20
Kent State at South Carolina – About the same story here except it’s early so we’ll get that one out of the way quickly. Gamecocks by 21
Youngstown State at Kentucky – Just why. I didn’t put a question mark because there’s not really an answer except it could help get to a bowl game. Wildcats by 35
Tennessee State at (3) Georgia – This was probably the only way Kirby Smart wanted to hold a scrimmage that everybody can watch. Nobody allows fans to see scrimmages these days. Bulldogs by 50
Texas State at (5) Texas – This one will be the Arch Manning public debut in Austin. Naturally everybody will have an opinion about it affecting the entire season after the first game. Longhorns by 38
Furman at (20) Tennessee – Tennessee will get a little exercise, the fans will get to watch a live practice with a scoreboard and Furman gets a check. Works for everybody. Vols by 52
Missouri State at (8) Texas A&M – The 12th Man will get a chance to have a live yell practice which everyone will enjoy down in College Station. Nobody’s worried about the outcome. Aggies by 34
Austin Peay at Vanderbilt – About the only way this could even be a battle would be comparing academic test scores. In just aboute every sport, though, the Commodores will dominate. Vandy by 30
UL Monroe at Mississippi State – If you think the Hogs have been quiet in fall camp, the Bulldogs could probably top that with whipped cream and a cherry on top. For some reason I’m not going way out on a limb here. State by 10
Florida Atlantic at Florida – Oh Good Grief. John Sumrall is the new coach and walked into a roster that will win this one easily even if they haven’t figured out anything else and they probably have. Gators by 43
Looking competitive on paper
Baylor at Auburn – The Bears do what they do every year being decent but not great. The Tigers are looking to get launched with a new coach, some new players and still having an eagle flying over the stadium. It probably won’t be a blowout but they’ll still be rolling Toomer’s Corner on Saturday night. Tigers by 13
Clemson at (11) LSU – Considering Lane Kiffin and the Tigers were backed down by the SEC from playing guys that were on NFL rosters less than a month ago, they waited until the last minute to not put them on the roster. There are still lawsuits and distractions on this one but hard to go against LSU in Death Valley. LSU by 6
Game of the Week (Sunday)
(24) Louisville at (9) Ole Miss – This may be the first of several biggest games on the Rebels’ schedule this year. With lofty expectations they can’t fall on their faces in the opener but the talent coming into this one actually looks improved over last year’s run that ended 30 seconds before getting to the national championship game. Rebels by 4.
