Is there anything Hogs can do to avoid a bad record-setting year?

As mentioned last week, Arkansas Razorbacks football has now reached a new record, and this milestone is not one of pleasure or bragging rights.

The Hogs have never lost nine games in a single season. Unfortunately, that precedent was broken last week.

Losing double-digit games in the same season? We are now facing that lowness … and this Friday, Missouri.

Before we proceed, those of us at HitThatLine.com and all our associates would like to extend appreciation and well wishes to our readers, listeners, and their families this holiday season for your loyalty and support.

Ten losses — is it really a possibility? It is. Friends, I would have lost every penny that I had if you had bet me prior to the season that Arkansas would lose 10 games in the inaugural season of the Chad Morris era.

Now I worry about how much the digit (or digits) under this season’s ‘L’ column will impact our recruiting long-term and even short-term. How rapid? Like a 50^th birthday present for Chad Morris.

Next week we will wrap up with a summary of the season. For now, our focus will be upon the game which will broadcast on your television at 1:30 p.m.

Yes, a game between two of the lesser SEC teams by a CBS broadcasting team questioning their worth to the network while you listen sparingly, slipping in and out of a leftover tryptophan coma.

Quick hits for this week:

• The Lock of the Tigers – Whether it is basketball or football, Arkansas tends to allow unexpected players to shine when in competition against us.

Recently it appears we have also added to the lore of what would be considered mildly-great players.

Drew Lock falls directly into that last category. It is his Senior Day in Columbia; and the Razorbacks must not permit him to break record after record in his last hoorah.

• It is a Real Game – I said it last week, we must not treat this as a spring game.

Granted, with the new four-game redshirt rule, it might expose some underclassmen to in-game experience, yet it is a road game, thus the roster is narrowed.

However, I am not certain whom all Morris has deemed to be on-board to avoid a 10-loss season.

• “Lessens” for a Secondary – The Razorbacks’ secondary is lessened this week due to the suspensions of Ryan Pulley and Kam Curl.

Despite the hormones of young men being what they may, Morris had no choice but to suspend two of his primary secondary players that were focused more upon the temptation of Mississippi State cheerleaders in lieu of handling the business that pays for the college education.

As discussed in a previous point, this will only hamper our ability to stop Lock from becoming a legend.

My apologies, those hits were not that quick. This game will be: Arkansas 17 – Missouri 38.

While I am not willing to concede defeat just yet, as there is an extremely slim possibility that I can catch Andy Hodges with our pics this week, I must state to him with newfound respect: well done, good sir. Well done.

• (18) Mississippi State at Ole Miss – State by 14.
• Georgia Tech at (5) Georgia – The Bulldogs defeat the Yellow Jackets by 28 and no one outside of GA cares.
• (11) Florida at Florida State [UPSET ALERT] – Seminoles by 3.
• Auburn at (1) Alabama – No returned field goals for a victory this year. Tide owns state bragging rights by 35.
• Tennessee at Vanderbilt – Tough pick. Commodores by 7.
• South Carolina at (2) Clemson – Tigers by 22.
• (15) Kentucky at Louisville – It is too bad that Les Miles will not be the coach on this Saturday. Wildcats by 18.
• (7) LSU at (22) Texas A&M – A great game will send Aggies fans home wondering “what if”. Tigers by 7.

Go HOGS!!!

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS