PETE’S PICKS: What will be keys for Razorbacks to pull out win Saturday

Ask most football fans, and there are two things that really get under their skin at a game. One is someone in the seats in front of them standing up and still right before an important play. The next is the person sitting with them asking them something completely irrelevant to the game that could wait until the car ride home.

Here is the good news for all of you attending this weekend when Arkansas hosts LSU in Razorback Stadium. You will all be standing.

The excitement sounds good, right? In recent seasons one might have thought a game against a Top Ten team would end up with plenty of seats available starting at halftime, and those in attendance sitting on their hands.

That’s not the case this year.

Unless a complete letdown happens, Arkansas is a contender this season and should play like one Saturday. Granted, LSU has a solid defense and a fantastic offensive scheme. This will be a battle not so much between LSU coach Brian Kelley and Head Hog Sam Pittman as it will between the four coordinators.

Scheme will go against scheme. Adjustments will square off against adjustments. The better staff will prevail.

I feel like I just wrote a tagline for a gladiator movie.

Regardless, Arkansas does not want to make this a high scoring affair. Quarterback Taylen Green will need to spend as much time on the field and keep the Tigers defense standing on the sidelines as long as possible. Clock control will be key.

If the Hogs can manage that, they can send roughly 80,000 screaming fans home happy with tired feet.

Arkansas, 31 – 24

Random Thoughts

I am probably so far off on that score that my own mother will deny knowing me.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Which former Arkansas player created the Golden Boot?
With as many upsets as Arkansas has had over LSU since the Battle of the Golden Boot started, you would think the series would be closer. The Tigers lead 17-9.
High school football in Arkansas is at a fever pitch. Get out on Friday night and support your local teams.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Former Razorback linebacker David Bazzel created the trophy awarded to the winner of the Arkansas and LSU series. He is quoted as saying he wanted to make it as “big and gaudy” as possible so it would have value and mean something. It is also the heaviest trophy in all of college football.

If you are in Fayetteville on Saturday night, stand up and stand out. Make some noise and make a difference. Do not let your tickets go to waste, and give them away if you have to.

Do not block everyone else’s view for the sake of making the game a social event.

Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 6 p.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.

SEC Picks for Week 8

Andy Hodges showed me a great courtesy in letting me have last week off to attend to a family matter. As a token of my appreciation, I have opted to not annihilate him with my picks this week; therefore, if any of the following do not come to fruition, you can know full well it was only me doing a good deed.

Auburn at (19) Missouri – Missouri’s loss to A&M really took the Tigers farther down in the polls than many expected, and their blowout of UMass did nothing to make it better.

All is not lost on the season for Missouri, however. If they can pull off some key wins over top opponents, they will still have a great shot at the playoffs. Oh, I should mention they play Auburn this weekend. Missouri by 14.

South Carolina at Oklahoma – Maybe I am biased, but I still see some greatness in the Gamecocks. They travel to OU this weekend, which would normally seem like a lock for the Sooners; however, the home team is reeling, I do not think South Carolina Head Coach Shane Beamer has his team prepared to play well enough to win this weekend. It will be close late, but the end result will be a two-score victory. Oklahoma by 15.

(7) Alabama at (11) Tennessee – Someone will be getting their second loss and will be on the outside of making the playoffs. The Vols are hosting, so that gives them an advantage. The game is early in the afternoon, and Bama has better talent, so that gives them two advantages. If it were played at night in front of a Neyland Stadium filled with inebriated Volunteer fans, I would give the home team the edge. It is not. Crimson Tide by 10.

(14) Texas A&M at Mississippi State – Who knew the Aggies would make this run when the season started? There were times they looked like they would miss Jimbo Fisher. They are doing fine on their own now, and the Bulldogs are an easy win. A&M by 28.

Ball State at Vanderbilt – “Good Grief Game”: We have seen Vandy be tagged for the “AH GGG” tribute game, probably even multiple times, but never as the victor. The Commodores are doing something special as of late, and the Cardinals are not even listed as a 10% probability of winning. ‘Dores by 24.

(8) LSU at Arkansas – Keeping the Tigers on their heels will be the difference in this game. You can call me crazy, and you can believe all the things Andy says about me, but this is not a homer pick. I promise … Well, you will just have to believe me. Hogs by 7.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(5) Georgia at (1) Texas – Ewers or Manning? Manning or Ewers? Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says there is not quarterback controversy, and a healthy Quinn Ewers will start over freshman (phenom?) Arch Manning.

Ewers should stay healthy throughout the game if he can get protection in the pocket and avoid any forearm shivers by Georgia coach Kirby Smart. You may have to “Google” that.

The Bulldogs would love nothing more than to knock of the top-ranked Longhorns in Austin, propelling them back into the Top 3. I truly feel Georgia is more talented than Texas. I could be off by a mile, but, as of late, the Bulldogs rarely lose one in the regular season. They’ll be damned before they lost two. Georgia by 7.

Kentucky at Florida – Both of these teams play with the same consistency as four-day old hummus. No doubt fans from both schools say the same thing, “Play great in big games. Play horrible against lesser opponents.” Well, maybe not in Gainsville. I am certain they only say, “We will not win until Napier is gone.” This game is a toss-up. Lucky coin, please?… Wildcats by 3.

Stand next to the ones you love and never take time with them for granted.

Go HOGS!!!