Call or text in
877-377-6963
The Morning Rush is LIVE on a Hot Take Monday… Plenty of thoughts after a 34-22 loss… 877-377-6963
Hogs coach Sam Pittman tries to put something positive on loss
After a 34-22 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday, the Hogs coach sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
Razorback players on bouncing back from disappointing loss to A&M
Quarterback KJ Jefferson, running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders along with defensive players Landon Jackson, Hudson Clark.
LIVE BLOG: Hogs score a late touchdown that only affects final score
After two straight losses, Arkansas zcomes into probably the next-to-last meeting with Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. What started as a novel idea in former Razorback Jerry Jones’ new stadium for the Dallas has pretty much run it’s course.
It would have helped if the Hogs could get a few more wins in the series. They started with three in a row and have won just one against the Aggies since 2012. Interestingly, there have been numerous close losses and some overtime games … all with the Hogs coming out otevn the short side.
This year they come into this game with a 2-2 record. A loss would put Sam Pittman on a hot seat, regardless what his many supporters think. Texas A&M getting a second loss on the season in what will be five games would increase the heat in College Station, Texas, around Jimbo Fisher.
We won’t bring up the implications of the Hogs having another loss and falling to 2-3 with road games coming up against Ole Miss and Alabama. The Razorbacks are in near-desperation mode now. A loss might remove the near part of that.
The good news out of Fayetteville this week has surrounded the possibile return of Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. He injured a knee in the opener down in Little Rock against Western Carolina and hasn’t played again. It has been noticed. How it contributed to some dysfunction in the offensive line remains one of many questions around this team.
Finding answers to the myriad questions is, ultimately, the biggest question facing Sam Pittman today against the Aggies.
The Hogs have arrived at the stadium. Pittman has already done interviews inside the stadium and both teams are getting ready for this one. The contract expires as the end of next year’s game and there’s not a lot of enthusiastic-sounding positives from athletics directors Arkansas’ Hunter Yurachek or Aggies’ Ross Bjork about continuing this matchup there.
We’ll have a recap of the scoring plays right after they happen here at HitThatLine and you can listen to the game if you’re not able to watch all afternoon.
1Q 6:45: Arkansas takes the opening kickoff and grinds out a methodical drive that goes backwards at the end with Texas A&M obviously bringing everybody but the cheerleaders after KJ Jefferson with pressure and Razorbacks’ offensive line can’t do a whole lot to stop him. Cam Little has to come on and blast a 52-yard field goal down the middle for early lead. Hogs 3, Aggies 0
1Q 2:36: Texas A&M doesn’t have to work as hard to answer. The Aggies drive 75 yards in just eight plays with quarterback Max Johnson throwing a perfect flag pattern pass to Evan Stewart. It’s one of Aggies offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s favorite routes. Aggies 7, Hogs 3
2Q 13:00: Razorbacks get Raheim “Rocket” Sanders involved with a game and he responds … but not for a score. The Hogs drive 69 yards in 10 plays have to settle for a field goal, which is a rather disturbing trend. Hogs controlling the clock and yards early, but not much points. Little comes on for a 25-yard field goal. Aggies 7, Hogs 6
2Q 10:26: After Hogs can’t get a first down, Texas A&M drives down the field and defense probably came out on the positive side of some passes involving contact. Randy Bond comes on for a 42-yard field goal to extend the lead. Aggies 10, Hogs 6
2Q :13: After a fourth-down call by Sam Pittman is blown up, Aggies move down for a 2-yard pass completion from Max Johnson to Earnest Crownover. Aggies 17, Hogs 6
3Q 14:54: Snaxx Johnson jumps Johnson’s first pass on a little out pattern and returned it 20 yards to open the second half with bang and some momentum. Aggies 17, Hogs 13
3Q 11:11: Texas A&M answers with a 58-yard drive stalling inside the 10 and Bond comes on to kick a 34-yard field goal after their offensive line jumps too quick. Aggies 20, Hogs 13
3Q 7:58: Razorbacks’ offense can’t seem to make plays when they really need to with Andrew Armstrong dropping a touchdown pass in the end zone. Little comes on for a 50-yard field goal. Aggies 20, Hogs 16
3Q 5:58: Jefferson has pass batted into air and the Aggies’ Chris Russell intercepts and returns it untouched for a score as game starts to settle into battle of goofy officials’ calls both ways. Aggies 27, Hogs 16
4Q 7:40: Aggies on verge of blowing this one wide open now. Ainias Smith returns Max Fletcher’s punt 82 yards and the Hogs may be on verge collapsing in this one. Aggies 34, Hogs 16
4Q 3:53: Razorbacks’ offense finally hits a big play as Jefferson, who was just letting things fly deep to Andrew Armstrong at the 3 and fell into the end zone. After a long delay, officials just let the whole thing stand, not that it did that much. Sategna came around on a reverse for the 2-point conversion that failed miserably. Aggies 34, Hogs 22
PETE’S PICKS: Could Razorbacks actually pull off big surprise?
Raise your hand if you have ever been wrong about something. Now drop it if you have never been critical towards someone else for their inaccuracies.
Do you still have your hand up? Me neither, otherwise, this article would be at an abrupt end right here.
Hey, Facebook critics, no, you do not get your wish granted with my early departure here; however, I will be short.
Arkansas hosts Texas A&M this weekend, and the game will probably mark the next-to-last time the two teams play the Southwest Classic in Jerry World … at least for now. The contract ends at the end of the 2024 game and nobody involved has much desire to keep losing a home game every other year to Arlington.
The Hogs had to come away with a mental win over LSU last week despite the scoreboard being three points in the Tigers’ favor. A&M seemed to cruise to a mildly easy victory over a visiting Auburn Tigers team.
With spattered speculation over how well Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher is gelling with offensive coordinator, let’s see how the game could play out.
Why Texas A&M will Win
Talent. A&M has a deep bench of fantastic players which may be insurmountable for the Razorbacks.
Big plays. Aggies Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino may look to hit the Arkansas defense with big plays early and often. LSU exposed we struggle defending speedy receivers in the secondary.
Speed and quickness. A&M is fast. That’s the take.
Why Arkansas will Win
Revenge. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson probably still has nightmares about the game we gave away last season. He will not be forgetful nor forgiving.
We are due. Yes, that sounds like a horrible reason to pick a winner, but with Arkansas dropping ten of the last eleven, our time is now.
Improvement on the offensive line. Last week’s game in Baton Rouge showed the Hogs have made some improvements in the most critiqued part of our team this year. The Aggies do have a great defensive line, but we will overcome and keep pressure off of KJ while also opening holes for the running backs.
Mark this down and even laugh if you want: We bring the trophy back to Fayetteville.
Arkansas, 34 – 17
Random Thoughts
Who is BMFP?
Last week’s close loss at LSU should have been a confidence booster.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Arkansas beat A&M the first time either program played against each other as a ranked team. This was one year after the first AP Poll was introduced the prior year. In what year was the first AP Poll released?
I am leaving this up until it is no longer a truth: Pittman STILL has a lot to prove for himself and his coaching staff. After the performance at LSU and with a victory this week, he may have himself and his team proven they can meet pre-season expectations.
TRIVIA ANSWER: 1936. The no. 20 Hogs defeated the Aggies 26 – 13 in 1937.
Andy Hodges enjoys orange sorbet more than you would think a man should. (Editor’s Note: Pete keeps forgetting who is the final person to read over these things … besides, orange sorbet is just a lighter form of a sherbert and very good)
Put your hands down, hypocrites.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 11:00 a.m. via HitThatLine and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
SEC Picks for Week 5
It is all SEC vs SEC this weekend. No cupcakes. No cross-conference rivalries. No match-ups with other Power 5 teams. Just pure Southeastern Conference Football, the way God intended.
Andy Hodges had better get his car back into the fast lane, as my early season blunder of only picking three games may have put me in his rear-view mirror, but I know he is glancing up every few seconds, fearing the inevitable. (Editor’s Note: We may be finding the print version of Tye Richardson)
(22) Florida at Kentucky: The Wildcats have the possible. Gators by 14.
Texas A&M at Arkansas (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas): Some say this could be ugly, not in the favor of Arkansas. I disagree. Hogs by 17.
(1) Georgia at Auburn: Hugh Freeze is a winner, but not this week. Bulldogs by 24.
Missouri at Vanderbilt: The Tigers should be able to continue to brag about being undefeated for one more week. Tigers by 18.
(13) LSU at (20) Ole Miss: GAME OF THE WEEK: The close win over Arkansas at home last week may have been a wake-up call for LSU. However, just to play it safe, the Bengal Tigers may be as bad as Florida State exposed in the second half. Ole Miss has confidence, but is it enough? It almost seems as though Lane Kiffin’s popularity (or infamy) is what keeps this team in the favors of the public eye. Sort of a page out of Deion Sanders’s playbook. In short, Oxford should be rockin’, but LSU will be rollin’. Tigers by 11.
South Carolina at (21) Tennessee: Should be a fun game to watch until midway in the 3rd quarter. Vols by 20.
(12) Alabama at Mississippi State: Mississippi State seems to be more down than even Ole Miss fans projected. Even at home, they are not match for Nick Saban. Bama by 22.
Soller Opposites
This week’s gambling take from Eric pits two of the country’s most well-known universities; however, one is normally more of a basketball powerhouse than a contender in football. My guess is the line is what makes this an intriguing bet. Eric breaks down Notre Dame at Duke, and you must ask yourself if you will follow suit on his advice, or will you take the Soller Opposite?
[Note: We do not promote gambling, and if you have an addiction to wagering money in any format, please seek professional help. Also, if you are an Aggies fan, professional assistance may be a necessity for you as well.]
Notre Dame -5 @ Duke
O/U 52
Both teams faced their early season, “less than spectacular entrees” around the cupcakes on their menu, I mean schedule. Notre Dame is coming off a disappointing showing in a loss to an unimpressive Buckeye team. Meanwhile, it looks like a bird left more than feather in Duke’s cap as it flew away following a victory over a crappy Clemson team.
Both teams have a lot to prove, and each team is averaging 30 ppg. Neither team’s defense can stop an offense on third downs, and both teams seem to give up big chunk plays on first down. There should fast paced drives ending in scores. Basically, this adds up to a very high scoring affair that will shoot through the posted total of 52.
Take the over of 52 and go as high as 54. Unless Notre Dame falls to -4, I’m not touching the line in this game, but I will play a two-team parlay of the Notre Dame money line with the over.
Over 52
ND money line with over 52 parlay.
Mr. Soller has top-notch input once again. Let’s see how he does come game’s end.
Thank you, Dale Dooley. Not only are you a loyal reader, but you are also a great ambassador for the human race.
Our game against the Aggies is very winnable, and I feel like we will be successful. Enjoy this one.
Find me on ‘X’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
ANDY’S PICKS: Hogs not favored against A&M no surprise
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Oddsmakers have Arkansas a decided underdog against Texas A&M. That really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, mainly because they don’t take into account how close this series has been … for the most part.
The Aggies ripped off a convincing win in 2016 that didn’t leave any doubt. Somehow in Bret Bielema’s final season it was an overtime game, mainly because the Razorbacks got the lead and promptly kicked off to Christian Kirk, who brought it all the way back for a score.
This year the Hogs have considerably more questions than they’ve found answers for in the first four games of the season. Offensive line issues and other mistakes have killed this team at times. A&M has lost one game, on the road at No. 18 Miami where the two teams combined for over 80 points.
Add former Hogs coach Bobby Petrino into the mix now as the offensive coordinator at A&M and that sounds bad enough (if you somehow thought that was an advantage, remember the BYU game and what LSU did last week). The Aggies have more talent on the defensive front than the Hogs have on the offensive line.
If you add all that up, unless you’re hoping the Razorbacks can beat the odds somehow for a win, then you’re more optimistic than me. The guess is Petrino would like nothing better than to light up the scoreboard against the Hogs. Arkansas fans can remember the games where they scored over 40 points offensively and still managed to lose by double digits.
The biggest question of this game is if the Hogs’ offense can get any consistency against A&M’s defense. Maybe Raheim “Rocket” Sanders comes back, maybe he doesn’t … we don’t have a clue. He did run well in practices this week, but we have no idea how he recovered or the effect missing a few weeks can do to a running back (and that can be a problem).
Since my buddy Pete Morgan is so far down on the contest, I’ll go first this week to give him a chance to get way out on a limb before he saws it off under himself.
LSU at Ole Miss is the only game among ranked teams in the SEC this week. There are some interesting matchups, but nothing that could be appointment viewinng. The television networks were so impressed by the Hogs and Aggies, they are on at 11 a.m. in the morning to get it out of the way on the SEC Network.
My guess is this one will probably follow stick pretty close to the betting line. Texas A&M 31, Hogs 21
As we said, this is not the most attractive week around the SEC. There are some intriguing games, but nothing that would really be required watching or keeping up with things, Pete is probably behind, but I don’t know the numbers and I’m guessing he doesn’t really know, either (although h’s way behind because he forfeited most of the first week’s games).
Around the SEC
22 Florida at Kentucky (-10): Somebody either knows something or all the money coming in is on Kentucky laying the points. The Gators probably have a better team than anyone was thinking before the season started and the Wildcats actually are more consistent in football now than they have been for a long time. Florida 28, Kentucky 24
1 Georgia (-14.5) at Auburn: Hugh Freeze is going to have the Tigers solid once again, but probably not this year. The Bulldogs have rolled through the SEC for the last couple of years. This game is the oldest rivalry in the South and no idea if it will continue as the league goes through a revampling of the scheduling with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma. Georgia 31, Auburn 14
23 Missouri (-14) at Vanderbilt: Am I the only one that believes this game could be the one the Tigers try to nap through and get surprised? Not enough that I would wager anything on it, though. Missouri 35, Vanderbilt 24
13 LSU at (20) Ole Miss (-2.5): This one is obviously based on where the game is being played more than anything else. As much as many in Arkansas hate Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, he is a pretty good coach. This matchup is one of the older rivalries in the league (mostly on the Ole Miss side). I am a Kiffin fan of his coaching (the other stuff doesn’t matter), but the Tigers have better talent on the roster. LSU 42, Ole Miss 41
South Carolina at (21) Tennessee (-11.5): The Gamecocks have the better quarterback with Spencer Rattler, who is starting to show why he was so highly-recruited coming out of high school. He can thank former Razorback player and assistant Dowell Loggains for that. The Vols have better wide receivers, though. Tennessee 34, South Carolina 21
12 Alabama (-14.5) at Mississippi State: Maybe the only surprising thing in this one is how low the Crimson Tide are ranked this year with just a single loss to No. 3 Texas. Voters are hoping Nick Saban has lost a little bit on the fastball. The only problem is the Bulldogs just aren’t good enough to do anything about it. Alabama 38, Mississippi State 14
Ruscin & Zach podcast from the Choctaw Club at Pinnacle in Rogers
The guys broadcast from the Choctaw Club at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers.
Scorebook Live’s Nate Olson on best high school matchups tonight
A lot of matchups between good teams, some good positions in big list of key games across state.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- September 29th, 2023
Guests: Aaron Torres, Nate Olson, Neal Atkinson
#Arkansas #ArkansasRazorbacks #Hogs #Hawgs #WPS #ArkansasRazorbacksPodcast #GoHogs #HitThatLine #WooPigSooie #RazorbackPodcast #ArkansasPodcast #HogPodcast
SEC Network’s Matt Stinchcomb on Hogs’ offensive line issues
Mistakes, penalties proving costly to group plus how good running back can make average linemen looking vastly better.
