It’s not a farfetched notion that if Auburn’s team bus gets lost and ends up in Kansas City before the game that many Arkansas fans would still expect a close game.
That is the state of affairs these days with Razorback football.
The Tigers, ranked No. 11 in the country, have only lost to LSU, are starting a freshman quarterback and are a 19.5-point favorite. The ESPN Power Index gives the Hogs just a 6.6 percent shot at winning.
Spare me the memes about “so you’re saying we have a chance.” Please.
As we said, Auburn is starting a freshman quarterback. Arkansas will likely start one of two graduate transfer quarterbacks who have under-performed spectacularly at times this year while the one who put the team in the end zone the most in fall camp and the most promising freshman in years continue to sit on the bench without a second of playing time.
Apparently, Chad Morris’ method of development is to improve in practice, but a lot of coaches who have won games in the SEC have told me over the years there’s only so much you can find out there.
Sooner or later, you have to just roll the dice and put ’em in.
It’s probably not a longshot that Morris simply doesn’t have the whatever to roll that dice, which is why the Hammer Down mantra he proclaimed when hired has become the butt of jokes with many fans.
Has he fallen into the trap of trying to avoid a loss so much he’s killing the chances of winning? You got the feeling the previous coaches fell into that rut, too.
Morris is coaching like someone who has a five-year contract and has been assured by folks who have a vote that he will get that … regardless.
Ignore any comments made by anybody for at least 48 hours. I sat in the press box one time listening to Frank Broyles and and Wilson Matthews fire Kenny Hatfield about six times in a 1989 game. He wasn’t, of course, but left for Clemson just over a month later.
That’s a guess, though. A lot of the big-money folks aren’t going to quit writing a check because their ego won’t let them. Oh, they can say whatever they want, but it’s a good bet when push comes to shove, they’ll keep writing it.
Because of the lucrative money that’s coming in from other places, they don’t have the leverage they once had.
On paper, this one is almost laughable. Maybe not as bad as next week against Alabama will be, but still good for a few giggles.
The only way to change that is for the Hogs to play like they haven’t in years.
And Auburn to help out a little.
Don’t expect either.
Auburn 42, Arkansas 10
In our picks contest, poor ol’ Peter Morgan didn’t make up any ground last week as we both went 3-4 … thank you Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and the Hogs.
He probably won’t gain any this week as it’s tempting to put every SEC game into the Easy Pickings segment of this thing. Yes, it’s that bad of a week.
Florida (-5.5) at South Carolina
The Gamecocks won an emotional overtime game last week as much by what Georgia messed up as what they did. The Bulldogs’ kicker missed a field goal in overtime, which hasn’t happened all year.
The Gators put the up the good fight against LSU last week, but folded at night in Baton Rouge against what may be the best team in the country.
Things return to normal this week.
Florida 24, South Carolina 20
LSU (-17.5) at Mississippi State
Bulldogs fans are as upset with Joe Moorhead as a lot of the Hogs fans are with Morris.
The Tigers come in ranked No. 2 in the country, with a quarterback in the running for the Heisman Trophy against a team that has played more quarterbacks than Arkansas and has juggled personnel all year with the NCAA suspensions.
It’s going to be another long day for the ‘Dogs.
LSU 42, Mississippi State 21
Missouri (-21) at Vanderbilt
If the over-rated Derek Mason was anywhere else, he’d be on the hot seat but in Nashville he can skate for awhile.
Let’s face it, seven wins in a season buys you a few years of job security there.
The Tigers are rolling and in a position to actually win the SEC East.
Missouri 45, Vanderbilt 14
Kentucky at Georgia (-25)
Seriously, the Wildcats may not get a score until the second half when the Bulldogs are playing every backup on the team. Nothing like an unexpected loss to get everybody’s attention.
Georgia 42, Kentucky 6
Texas A&M (-6) at Ole Miss
It is sooooo tempting to pick an upset here, but I simply am resorting to feeling like Chad Morris and playing it safe. I don’t believe the Aggies are that good, but I’m relatively certain the Rebels aren’t.
Although it’s interesting to see the second best player in Mississippi last year is starting at quarterback for Ole Miss while the best player hasn’t played a snap at Arkansas.
This may be the best game in the league this week.
Texas A&M 35, Ole Miss 31
Tennessee at Alabama (-35.5)
Nick Saban’s biggest concern in this one will be how many fans are still hanging around after halftime, despite his “rat poison” comments this week and the Vols surprising Mississippi State last week.
Talk about bad luck for Tennessee and former Saban assistant Jeremy Pruitt.
Alabama 51, Tennessee 9
