Most of you have heard Marc Cohn’s 1991 hit song at some point. It starts out, “Put on my blue suede shoes, and I boarded the plane.”
Cohn then proceeds to sing about his lone journey walking through Memphis to overcome his writer’s block. Trust me, Marc,
I have been there. What’s my point? I also have writer’s block.
Regardless of my personal woes, Arkansas travels to Memphis for this Saturday’s game, still reeling from a loss at Ole Miss. The Tigers are 3-0, and they are banking on momentum carrying them through a victory over an SEC team.
Andy Hodges wrote a fantastic piece breaking down the game. If you have not read it, check it out.
On paper, this is an interesting contest by the team statistics. Arkansas averages almost 200-yards more per game on offense, while Memphis’s defense holds its opponents to almost 100-yards less than the Razorbacks. Let’s call it for what it is, and that is both teams have had somewhat soft schedules to begin 2025.
The Tigers have basically run 10 feet off of Beale over three cupcakes. Arkansas has had two cakewalks and one game against a ranked opponent.
So, a quick take: I think the Hogs are the far better team and program. I think we have been tested more than Memphis. I believe we have the more supreme coaching staff. I also feel we are far more talented, and that will be what separates us on the scoreboard.
But do I really feel the way I feel? Yes.
Chuck Barrett needs to have job duties reconsidered if at least once he does not scream “Touchdown in the land of the Delta Blues”. He should have plenty of opportunities as the Hogs will fare better in this game than many are expecting.
Arkansas 41, Memphis 24
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 11:00 A.M. via HitThatLine.com 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.
Random Thoughts
Lane Kiffin is an absolute troll, even on the sidelines, yet part of me likes him. A piece of me also enjoys watching Angel Reese miss layups, so I do have a bit of an evil streak.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Memphis leads the series with a 3-2 advantage. All five games were played in the 1990s. This game will be played in Memphis as it has been three times prior. In what obvious location has this game never been played?
If you are a high school volleyball coach, and you are getting so worked up in a Junior Varsity game that a fan has to yell at you to calm down and your own fan base is talking about (and apologizing for) how embarrassing you are acting after the contest, you might want to rethink your approach.
I do respect sticking up for your team, but not at the expense of a young lady who had a traumatic childhood and is just trying to obtain some sense of normalcy. No personal offense. I have lost my cool as well at ballgames. I get it.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Never has the game been played in Fayetteville. Memphis and Arkansas alternated the series between Memphis and Little Rock. Speaking of song lyrics…
Serious question: Would you walk alone in the streets of Memphis? Into even in 1991.
SEC Picks for Week 4
Andy says he has to list his picks in the same order as I do mine to make it easier for me to find my losses. I’ll do him a favor and even tell him which winners to pick to make it easier on him. After all, it is not as much fun as you might think being the rookie showing the ol’ pro how to predict ball games week after week after week after week.
Season after season after … Well, after this week, Andy will be as blue as a boy can be.
Arkansas at Memphis – The Tigers do not have a prayer in Memphis. Hogs by 28.
UAB at (15) Tennessee – The Vols hung with Georgia last week. So close, in fact, the Bulldogs needed overtime to get the win. The Blazers have historically been a pretty good team by picking up the scraps from Alabama and Auburn (also some who need their grades improved). That has changed since hiring Trent Dilfer as their head coach three years ago. Tennessee is just too strong to be upset by and AAC school. Volunteers by 31.
Tulane at (13) Ole Miss – Even with a backup quarterback, the Rebels are pretty decent. Their defense is a little shaky, but their offense overcomes it in a shootout. Tulane is no slouch this year. In fact, although I cannot remember where I heard it, there is speculation by Lane Kiffin that Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall will be an SEC head coach very soon. If that is the case, Kiffin’s Rebels had better ensure there is no upset in Oxford this season. It will be close until midway through the third quarter. Ole Miss by 24.
PETE’S SEC GAME OF THE WEEK
(22) Auburn at (11) Oklahoma – Auburn quarterback (and Oklahoma transfer) Jackson Arnold makes his return to Norman to face his former teammates in the SEC clash. This is the only match-up between two ranked teams this week, so, naturally, it’s an easy choice for my Game of the Week.
I am still not sold on Auburn. I think they have benefited from a very soft schedule. I do not feel they should be ranked, but then again, I am uncertain as to which teams I would rank ahead of them. Nothing about them impresses me, honestly.
I must admit, I came into the season thinking OU was over ranked like they most often are. But their win over Michigan was enough to sway me in believing they do deserve a Top 25 spot at the least. Being at No. 11 may be a bit high, but time will tell.
The Sooners’ defense allows very few points, and Auburn’s offense not only does not have the strength, but it also does not match up well with OU. Add to it, the game is in Norman. Sooners by 10.
NIU at Mississippi State – Hey, the Bulldogs are not an automatic ‘W’ this year, especially for the Northern Illinois Huskies. MSU will not get ranked after this win, but they will have a blowout so the crowd can get blitzed a little earlier than normal, but this time celebrating a win instead of drowning their sorrows. State by 36.
South Carolina at (23) Missouri – Well, Shane Beamer, you have done it again. You have given the Gamecock faithful something to hope for early in a season only to have it ripped out from underneath them like a Gus Malzahn contract. Speaking of contracts, you had better start putting some “dubyas” together if you want a good dollar figure on that VA Tech contract. The Tigers do not care about your feelings, though. They have you at their place, and they now have the playoffs in their sites. Mizzou by 10.
Georgia State at (20) Vanderbilt – No, that is not a typo, the Commodores have leapt into the poll at No. 20. Head coach Clark Lea has Vandy looking pretty solid this year. They have had good early weeks in recent seasons, but this one seems different. Two decisive road wins against historically competitive schools in Virginia Tech and South Carolina have made this Vanderbilt team seem more formidable in 2025. They should have no trouble against the Panthers at home. ‘Dores by 37.
“Good Grief Game”
SLU at (3) LSU – Dang, how many football playing colleges do they have in Louisianna? Tigers by 41… at the half.
Sam Houston at (8) Texas – Same question. Different state. The Longhorns must win this one by at least 40 to avoid dropping in the rankings. Texas by 52.
I know many come on here and read sports as an escape from politics, society, and even religion, but I want to thank all of you for reaching out in regards to the passing of our beloved Annie. I also would like to extend prayers to the Besier Family for the loss of their beloved infant Adalynn Marie this past week. Our hearts ache for you.
I will neither fly nor walk to Memphis this weekend. For one, it is too close of a drive for a first-class ticket. For another, I will watch with my nail gun in one hand and a Mountain Dew in the other. We are beginning renovations on the house, and my timeline has grown short, mostly because I cannot stop watching sports, but who can blame me? I will be sure to enjoy the game via an outlet from right here on HitThatLine.com.
Go HOGS!!!
