Don’t look for a repeat of 2007 win in Baton Rouge when Hogs meet LSU

Friday, 23 November 2007. Houston Nutt led Darren McFadden and the Arkansas Razorbacks into Baton Rouge to face the BCS No. 1-ranked LSU Tigers for Nutt’s last game as head coach.

The result: Arkansas upset the Tigers and (what many thought at the time) their chances for a national championship.

Saturday, 23 November 2019. Barry Lunney, Jr. will lead Rakeem Boyd and the Arkansas Razorbacks for Lunney’s first game as interim head coach into Baton Rouge to face the BCS #1 ranked LSU Tigers.

The result: Looming, but do not expect a familiar sensation as from the first listed episode.

LSU is 10–0, including a close victory against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. What’s worse is LSU looked very solid in the first half building a big lead against the Crimson Tide.

There are positives however.

One is LSU’s defense has had its issues at times this season, and this week they are down two starters in safety Grant Delpit and right tackle Austin Deculus. Freshman Maurice Hampton and senior Badara Traore are expected to take their respective spots.

Another is LSU has had difficulty defending running quarterbacks, and if KJ Jefferson receives the nod from Lunney to either start the game or to play significant time off the bench, the freshman could see solid gains in ground yardage. He could be a big threat with and a compliment to Rakeem Boyd and Devwah Whaley.

A third could be a newfound enthusiasm from the players due to the introduction of Lunney as the interim head coach. LSU fans are familiar with the concept when they fired Les Miles in 2016 and Ed Orgeron announced he was going to “flip the script”, leading the Tigers to a successful season with only eight-games remaining.

For every positive there is usually a counterpoint negative. The above points possess no exception.

LSU’s defense may have its issues, but Arkansas’s offense has not shown any spark against any level of defense, including Portland State, San Jose State, and Western Kentucky. So a “less than standard” Tigers defense would be far more competitive than the aforementioned Razorbacks’ 2019 opponents.

KJ is young and inexperienced. Even if the offensive line is able to play their best game of the season, Jefferson’s inexperience against an SEC defense could leave him vulnerable to injury. Let us not also forget the LSU secondary is not just going to allow him nor John Stephen Jones to complete many passes in an effort to open up the running game.

Lunney has made changes in his short two-weeks running the Razorbacks Football program.

Unfortunately he also only has two weeks left, and even though Arkansas fans abroad have taken solace in the dismissal of Chad Morris, with the season being a total 2–8 washout, we also know it is far too late in the season for Lunney to mastermind any kind of revolution which will lead us to victory … against LSU … who is ranked No. 1 …. and playing in Death Valley.

Positives or negatives, from the perspective of Hogs fans, which will be the dominate force?

I think we all know the answer, and so does Vegas with their historic mid-40’s point-spread.

LSU 44, Arkansas 10

If it’s any consolation, the CBS broadcast of the 2007 upset indubitably sparked LSU’s desire to end its traditional Friday after Thanksgiving match-up with the Hogs. Somebody upload THAT to Wikipedia.

You can listen to the game right here on HitThatLine.com if you live in the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas or over the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The HTL Weekly Pick Contest is wrapping up. I’ve tried a new strategy as of late and that is not looking at the standings to avoid any drastic picks in hopes of making a move on Andy Hodges’s lead.

So, with my best deductions, here we go … again:

Western Carolina at (5) Alabama: I am curious if any of the Catamount faithful have pondered “With Tua out and Mac Jones at quarterback we have a chance to win this game.” No, outside of Duke fans, Carolina people are pretty sensible. Saban might normally consider resting some of his starters, but he knows he needs to light up the scoreboard for BCS purposes. Bama by 52.

Samford at (15) Auburn: Two super competitive games being played in the state of Alabama at the same time?!?! Crazy. Tigers by 30.

Texas A&M at (4) Georgia [GAME OF THE WEEK]: It’s ALMOST hard to believe this is the first time these two have matched up against one another since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. Georgia is on a mission and A&M poses only a mid-level thread. Bulldogs by 18.

Tennessee-Martin at Kentucky: Which Kentucky team will show up? Correction. Which Kentucky quarterback will show up? [My apologies. I simply cannot let our loss to them go. Wildcats by 20.

East Tennessee State at Vanderbilt: The Buccaneers travel to the friendly fields of Vanderbilt Stadium. The Commodores smell blood at the chance for a late season victory. Vandy by 24.

Arkansas at LSU: Come on, Hogs, surprise us. Tigers by 34.

Abilene Christian at Mississippi State: Scheduling must have been a tough task for the MSU administration a couple of years ago. The Christians had better be getting paid. Bulldogs by 48.

Tennessee at Missouri: This could be the closest game on the schedule. Both have matching 5 – 5 records and thus the winner becomes bowl eligible. I think Missouri has the advantage at home, but I could be surprised. Tigers by 5.

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS

Go HOGS!!!