Even if Burks, Pool out, Hogs shouldn’t have much issue with this one

Injuries could hamper a couple of Arkansas starters this week, but it really shouldn’t matter that much against San Jose State on Saturday night.

The Spartans may keep it close for a quarter, but I really don’t look for it to be close at halftime.

But, then again, I thought last week’s game would be over by the end of the first quarter. That prediction was looking good until the second period rolled around.

This week, though, freshman wide receiver and punt returner Treylon Burks could miss some time with a reported hand injury. How serious it is nobody that knows is really telling anybody anything.

Although the initial reaction is to think about the offense, he’s done a pretty good job on punt returns, limiting free yards on the ball rolling, which doesn’t happen a lot with Burks back there.

Starting linebacker Bumper Pool had a sprained collarbone (which I didn’t even know was possible to say until that little nugget came out) and, of course, it’s either broken or the ligaments and muscles around the collarbone are strained.

The guess here is that shouldn’t have a major impact, either, as the depth at linebacker is good enough to handle San Jose.

“Don’t underestimate them,” center Ty Clary said this Tuesday.

Part of it are all the different looks the Spartans use defensively.

“They do a lot of really good things as far as disguising their pressures and coverages on the back end,” Chad Morris said.

In college football, though, a talent gap this large usually works itself out and likely will this week, too, although this may be the largest the Hogs have seen this year and, yes, that includes Portland State.

The Hogs will end up on the plus side of this one.

Hogs (21) 63, San Jose State 14

In our little pick contest, I was 10-1 last week going to 30-7 overall and Peter Morgan hangs in there at 29-6, but we’ll start to see some separation now that the games get interesting.

Easy pickings

Not as many quickies this week picking Alabama (38.5) over Southern Mississippi, LSU (24) over Vanderbilt (and the Commodores will be battling down to the last week to stay out of the East’s cellar).

Tennessee at Florida (14)

The Vols will have to play the best game they’ve played in a few years to even beat the spread on this one … and, yes, I’m well aware the Gators will be starting a backup quarterback.

There’s usually a defining moment in a relatively new coach’s progress with a team and the win at Kentucky last week may be that for Dan Mullen

Florida 31, Tennessee 10

California at Ole Miss (2.5)

The Rebels could be in for a little bit of a track meet in this one. Not to the level they were having them in 2015-16, but it could be interesting.

Ole Miss’ difference this year is they have a defense that’s not terrible. In their opening loss to Memphis, it wasn’t on the defense

Matt Corrall is settling in at quarterback, but it’s the play of the Rebels’ defense that has been remarkably improved this year

In my opinion, this one will be more of a win for the Rebels than some think.

Ole Miss 28, California 14

Auburn at Texas A&M (4)

The good news for Hog fans is the Aggies haven’t been able to spend much time thinking about next week’s game in Arlington … the Tigers are coming to College Station.

This is the featured game of early games in the league and we’ll find out if Kellen Mond is the answer or not … and if Bo Nix can be the answer Gus Malzahn has been desperately trying to find at Auburn the last few years.

The guess here is this one is going to come down to defense.

And Auburn’s got the best one.

Auburn 31, Texas A&M 28

Kentucky at Mississippi State (6)

Talk about two teams maybe at the crossroads of a season, this is it.

The Wildcats had Florida by the throat and, basically, let go of the rope just a few inches away from getting out of the hole.

The Bulldogs dove headfirst into the ground — at home — against Kansas State. While that may say as much about the Wildcats improving, it was still kinda surprising to see them go into Starkville and win it.

State fans have had questions about Joe Moorhead for nearly a year. They’re still wondering how you can have 4 players among the first 44 drafted into the NFL this past year and only put together a 7-5 regular season.

Kentucky had its once every 45 years season last year and, as many have predicted, they showed signs they may be coming back to the pack last week.

Same old Wildcats, folding late in a game they probably shouldn’t have won to begin with, yet still managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mississippi State 24, Kentucky 21

South Carolina at Missouri (9)

The Gamecocks lost a starting quarterback early in the year and put up the good fight against Alabama last week before the inevitable happened in a Crimson Tide walkover.

Now they have to go to Missouri against a Tigers team that stumbled in the season opener, but may be starting to get a little footing.

At 2-1, they really haven’t been impressive. They did badly beat West Virginia, but they are still figuring it out with a new coach.

If South Carolina wins this, then it will be an upset.

Missouri 37, South Carolina 28

Notre Dame at Georgia (14.5)

Either way this game goes, it will have implications with the College Football Playoff coming in November.

The guess is the loser of this game — if they can avoid another slip — will be in the conversation and, indeed, the last spot could come down these two.

We’ll find out if head-to-head matters.

It’s much more possible the Bulldogs could be the one with the problem. It’s not out of the realm of possibility a loss here hurts them more than the Irish because they could go into the SEC Championship Game with this one loss.

Again, that’s all just possibilities.

Last year was close, but not this year.

Georgia 35, Notre Dame 14