Maybe not watching score best way to see A&M game

Arkansas goes into Saturday’s matchup with Texas A&M as a 20-point (or 21 points, depending on which Vegas line you follow) underdog, which probably surprises no one.

Needless to say, the Aggies are strutting right now. How many teams do you see with a 2-2 record that do a lot of strutting? Only Aggies.

It’s amazing how different both of these teams are viewed. The Razorbacks have considerably less chance of winning this game than the current nominee in Washington has of getting confirmed.

Yes, we’ve dropped to that level. You may not watch the scoreboard as just see if the Hogs get better, because I’m guessing they do.

There was progress by the Hogs last week. With Ty Storey running things, the offense at least settled down a little and didn’t exactly blow up.

No, the Hogs simply couldn’t score against Auburn last week. The Tigers have one of the more physical defenses in all of college football.

It will come down to how well Storey and his receivers can connect, something this team has struggled with since the opener, regardless of the quarterback.

If A&M’s defense has a weakness, defending the pass has been about the only thing to pick on, which is true of what Jimbo Fisher wants to do. He’s obsessed with running and controlling the run.

Against Clemson and Alabama, the Aggies weren’t able to run the ball, but were fairly solid stopping the run.

And that has been the constant theme.

If Arkansas can get 100 yards on the ground, they may actually have a shot at winning this game … if they can keep A&M down around that 100-yard level.

The Aggies will fling it around, but I’m guessing John Chavis is going to bring everybody but the cheerleaders and see if Kevin Mond can handle the pressure, while keeping an eye on him running.

For the last two seasons, A&M quarterbacks have run on the Hogs’ defense to the point where you actually began to wonder if they were going to give out with all those long sprints.

Arkansas will continue to be improved, but it would be shocking if it’s enough to get close to a win.

Texas A&M 35, Arkansas 14

Last week was a good one for the record, evening hitting on Kentucky’s win over Mississippi State. That prompted a message from my cousin, who played there, telling me to quit picking Bulldogs’ games.

The record moves to 39-5 as we have now completed a third of the season.

The games that really don’t even require a lot of thought are Alabama over Louisiana, Auburn over Southern Mississippi and Vanderbilt over Tennessee State.

Tennessee at -33 Georgia

There was a temptation to put this in the games not requiring a lot of thought, but it’s just fun to point out the Vols as a 33-point underdog to a division opponent.

The only way this is an upset is if Tennessee is still in the game halfway through the second quarter. Seriously.

Coach Jeremy Pruitt had a player go to the lockerroom last week in the first half. Reports vary over whether he was sent there by Pruitt or a member of the medical staff.

See, Arkansas isn’t the only place first-year coaches are struggling.

Georgia 56, Tennessee 7

Florida at -8 Mississippi State

Mississippi State was favored last week, but it wasn’t a stretch to see what might — and eventually did — happen against Kentucky.

Now they are favored at home against former coach Dan Mullen and a lot of folks think this favors the Bulldogs, who should be pumped up because of that.

Folks can say what they want, but Mullen left Starkville for Florida more for better players than the sunshine. Yes, he inherited more — and better — players than he left behind with the Bulldogs.

This year the Gators sorta slow-rolled the start to the season, but they’ve been getting better each week.

And now Kentucky showed a way to beat State.

Since I had a perfect week last week because of an upset that hit, let’s try that again.

Florida 35, Mississippi State 31

-1 South Carolina at Kentucky

Are the Wildcats for real?

Well, they’ve got a running back in Benny Snell and a belief now that they can win. sitting at 4-0 in league play and tied with Georgia atop the division.

But it’s still early.

Will Muschamp has the Gamecocks playing better, but they have played one less game due to the hurricane earlier this month and lost to Georgia, 41-17.

Most people are taking South Carolina, but the hunch here is Kentucky may actually be the second best team in the East.

Kentucky 24, South Carolina 21

Ole Miss at -13.5 LSU

We’ll find out how the Tigers compare with Alabama a little this week, hosting a Rebels team that has a high-powered offense with almost no defense.

My guess is the only reason this spread is not more than that is the questions about LSU’s offense.

They’ll handle this one with ease.

LSU 35, Ole Miss 10