FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Even though Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, there is a lot of smoke coming from the fire on the seat he sits on these days with the Razorbacks.
He’s trying to say it’s just “noise,” but in doing this over 50 years, where there’s smoke there’s usually a fire somewhere.
We’ll know more after they face a Notre Dame team that lost two games to teams now ranked in the Top 10 by a total of four points. Exactly how that’s anybody’s fault but the person who did the schedule still mystifies me.
The Razorbacks are a team that has lost two games people think they should have won because they fumbled in the final minute of each game. That’s ridiculous. They had 59 before that to remove any doubt.
Those mistakes usually happen to the team that simply has lost the mental discipline to pay extra attention to the number one job of someone carrying the ball — hang on to the thing. There have been very scores by someone not holding onto the ball.
In the Hogs’ case, it also pointed out the problems this team has, getting into a track meet with both Ole Miss and Memphis. Arkansas’ offense can score and, so far, the defense is doing a better job of giving up points in bigger numbers than Bobby Petrino can manufacture.
We have proof now the Razorbacks’ secondary is performing about like we saw in the spring. It hasn’t improved and I’m pretty certain the coaching staff didn’t just sit around nothing thinking about before the season started.
The defensive line doesn’t seem to be interested in playing with a physical nature and the linebackers haven’t played anywhere near what was projected of them.
The summary of all this is if the Razorbacks can’t out-score somebody, there doesn’t appear to be any way they can win a game.
On the flip side, Notre Dame can run the football. This may be the best pair of running backs on one team coming into Razorback Stadium since Eric Dickerson and Craig James came to town in 1981 and ran over the Hogs unmercifully.
It’s amazing to watch what happens to the opposing team when a team run the ball. They usually start pressing offensively and Petrino’s impatient nature usually leads to panic-passing that will work for a couple of drives, but not an entire game.
That’s why this one isn’t hard for to pick. Arkansas can prove me wrong (and it won’t be the first time), but the only team that will beat the Irish is Notre Dame.
That’s not something I’m going to predict.
Notre Dame 42, Hogs 24
Pete Morgan broke his picks up into two stories this week. Exactly why he did that is amazing to me since he doesn’t get paid per story.
We do have some good games at last. As the SEC schedule gets under way these games are going to be a little closer, but Pete didn’t get that memo on some of these games.
The SEC has turned into a light version of the NFL and most of these games come down to the last possession for each team.
SEC Picks for Week 5
Utah State at (18) Vanderbilt – Good Grief 1. After that buildup it’s kind of a downer to start this way, but unless the Commodores have a success hangover this one won’t be close. Utah State just isn’t very good these days. At least the home crowd won’t affect it much. Vandy by 24.
Auburn at (9) Texas A&M – The Tigers could have beaten Oklahoma on the road last week except for a couple of officials’ calls, but it is what it is now. Auburn is not a bad team and Texas A&M isn’t, either. But the Aggies are home for this game and that’s usually good for a touchdown plus they just have slightly better personnel. Aggies by 4.
(4) LSU at (13) Ole Miss – Maybe the best game in the SEC this week. If you haven’t caught the E60 that ESPN did with Lane Kiffin, you might want to see it before you start assuming he’s headed to Gainesville. He’s content in Oxford, but most importantly his family is VERY happy being there and right now that might mean more to a more mature Kiffin than the sugar rush of coaching Florida. A win over LSU could solidify that even more. Rebels by 5.
(15) Tennessee at Mississippi State – The Bulldogs may be the most improved team in the SEC this year. Granted, the bar they had to clear was pretty low after a 2-10 season, but they’ve already doubled their number of wins this year and haven’t lost yet. In case you forgot, Arizona State in Week 2 was ranked No. 12 in the country, which is higher than Tennessee. This one may be a nail biter. Vols by 1.
(17) Alabama at (5) Georgia – We’ll find out if Kalen DeBoer has the Crimson Tide straightened out or not in this game. The experts are saying the Bulldogs are going to win this one rather easily, but that’s probably based on the opening-day loss to Florida State and the reality is that game means absolutely nothing now. Alabama may not be back, but I’m not going to say they will be blown out. Georgia by 3.
UMASS at (20) Missouri – Good Grief 2. Mezzo will keep right on rolling in this one. Tigers by 35.
Kentucky at South Carolina – For whatever reason, South Carolina doesn’t be as good as folks were projecting them. The offense looks completely dysfunctional at times. Considering they have a new offensive coordinator this year, it may be a clue to what was going on the last couple of years and Dowell Loggains was more critical to the overall team than anyone thought. The Wildcats just aren’t very good. Gamecocks by 6.
