Razorbacks will bounce back this week against Mississippi State

Quick questions:

• Who believes Alabama showed us mercy?

• Who thinks Alabama was doing us the favor of clemency when they went for it on ‘4th and goal’ late in the 4th quarter?

• Who cares? Our wiggly crosshairs are now lined up in a pure focus upon Mississippi State.

Agreed. It is time to leave the embarrassment heaved onto us in Tuscaloosa in the axiomatic rear-view mirror.

Pssst … One more question. Between us, who thinks we can beat the Bulldogs this Saturday in Fayetteville?

What’s that? Yeah, me, too.

Here’s why:

Mississippi State is starting a freshman at quarterback. Granted, newcomer Garrett Shrader may truly be the best option for the Bulldogs as the starting signal caller, however, he has not been in the lead role long enough to feel comfortable on the road.

Unfortunately, the downside to this is the once loud and mostly intimidating crowd at Razorback Stadium will consist of minimal numbers and thus unable to intimidate the underclassmen for which we have be fully capable in years past.

Mississippi State is looking to the future. This is simply my deduction in regards to decisions made my Bulldog coach Joe Moorhead in recent weeks.

His pronouncement to start Shrader is one of the aspects in my belief of this, and, if I am correct, Arkansas can use this passiveness to its advantage.

Of course, this all centers around if Joe Moorhead feels his team is playing for his job over the next four weeks.

Arkansas is still playing to win. There seems to be little indication Chad Morris intends to play the underclassmen more in an effort to afford them real-world snaps to increase their comfort level.

We did see John Stephen Jones make a few appearances at Alabama, yet I feel while a bowl game is not completely out of the picture (even though it has put its hand in front of the camera), Morris will continue to play what he feels is the best option at every position.

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He also may be coaching for his job and the fear overrides his ability to form structure for forthcoming seasons.

The Razorbacks still have heart. I have not heard any murmurings of the players having checked out this deep into the struggling season.

There may be a few grumblings of displeasure, including mentions of the transfer portal within the locker room, but that is a given when athletes are competing for playing time.

The majority of the young men on this team are still dedicated in giving each and every play their full measure of capabilities.

Hopefully Morris can harness these lingering desires and motivate the players into reopening the rusted shut doors to Club Dub.

Rakeem Boyd. He is ready for another breakout game, and while Mississippi State may not be the most porous defense, they are also not the most solid when it comes to defending the rush.

By the numbers, they allow 4.5 yards per rush and roughly 160-yards per game. If our offensive line can focus for at least this one game, we can open up holes for Boyd and Devwah Whaley for which their speed can resolve the remaining defenders lingering in the secondary.

The SEC losing streak has to end. It has been over two-years since the Hogs last left a field triumphant over an SEC opponent.

If your curiosity is piqued, Cole Kelly threw for 189-yards, three-touchdowns, and one-interception leading Arkansas to a second-half comeback in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 28th, 2017.

Surely the football deities can realize every streak has to come to an end based upon pure statistics and odds and therefore grant us a victory Saturday.

On the flipside, maybe we are still cursed because Houston Nutt did not pay them homage when “he called that play”. Who knows? I am just throwing ideas at the wall and hoping something sticks.

Whatever the case may be, even though you may not be a believer in luck, if you are a fan of the cardinal and white, keep your fingers crossed, rub your favorite rabbit’s foot, and decorate your house with bamboo, because it will take all of efforts to end this debacle that is Arkansas Razorbacks football.

Wait, what’s that? Oh, you said you DO NOT think Arkansas will win? Well, feel free to call me crazy, uninformed, and a homer while you click the laughing emoji on your favorite social media outlet.

It ends Saturday on Frank Broyles field.

Arkansas over Mississippi State, 34-17

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Fun question: If Arkansas loses, does Chad Morris leap over Joe Moorhead for the #1 spot on the hotseat list?

Be sure to listen to the game at 3 p.m. via HitThatLine.com, and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The HTL Weekly Pick Contest is building to a feverish pitch. The suave veteran, Andy Hodges, saw his lead fall by a game to the sophisticated, collected, and (may I say) ruggedly handsome young superstar he faces week-to-week.

This is the SEC, and almost no pure conference games come with 100% certainty, especially when Alabama has a bye.

Here we go:

Texas at San Antonio at Texas A&M

I can honestly say I have never watched UTSA play a single down of football, however, I hear the Roadrunners are fast. Very fast. The temptation to make a Wile E. Coyote reference here is overwhelming, but I am definitely too mature and professional for such a low stoop in an attempt to catch a laugh. This will be easy for the Aggies as they will make their 2 – 3 Conference USA guests feel as though they just ran off of a cliff. A&M by 30.

(8) Georgia at (6) Florida [GAME OF THE WEEK]

For some reason I have always been a fan of Dan Mullen ever since he came to Mississippi State. Now he is proven his worthiness as a head coach running the program at Florida.

Which brings us to Kirby Smart. I have no problem with the guy, yet I am still not impressed. I feel he is somehow still riding the coattails of momentum built by Mark Richt. Certainly I am mistaken.

Here is the thing though, this game, usually held at a neutral site in Jacksonville, is almost always one of promise.

Yet they play for an oar … an OAR. As kids walking back from the lake we would argue and force the lesser child among us to carry the oar back to camp. I digress as this should be a fun one. Georgia by 10.

Mississippi State at Arkansas – I cannot pick each game correct each week, can I? Hogs by 17.

Ole Miss at (11) Auburn

Plain and simple, Ole Miss gets drilled. Not as bad as Arkansas was against the Tigers, but still pretty embarrassing for the Rebels. Auburn by 27.

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University of Alabama at Birmingham at Tennessee

Should I thank the Vols for inching me one game closer to Andy in last week’s contest, or should I still be weary of how they are going to play this week. Fortunately for the orange-clad, they should make light work of UAB. Vols over the Blazers by 28.

Vanderbilt at South Carolina [SLOPFEST OF THE WEEK]

Trying to determine in advance on how each of these teams is going to perform each week is trying to predict which of your two uncles will become intoxicated quickets at the family reunion and fall for the ol’ “I bet you cannot do a backflip off of the gazebo” manhood challenge. I have developed a soft spot in my heart for Vandy, most likely due to their loyal fans making their way to a home game now remind me of Saturday’s in Fayetteville. South Carolina is the better team this season. Gamecocks by an odd 15.

We really can win this one at home, Razorbacks fans. I feel it… yet I am not betting on it. Have a great weekend everyone! God Bless.

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS

Go HOGS!!!