Ruscin’s Rant: 10-2 is the mark for Arkansas in ’17

Yeah, I went there.

Why not have fun with something as trivial and silly as predicting the unpredictable?

7-5 is what Jim Rome would describe as triple U.

Unfunny.

Uninspired.

Unreadable.

I have Arkansas going 10-2 this season with losses to Texas A&M (again) and Auburn.

That means they will beat Alabama and LSU this year.

On the road.

Arkansas has never had trouble taking care of LSU, home or away, and I do not think Ed Orgeron is going to be a huge success down on the bayou.

As for Bama, Arkansas hung 30 on the national runner up last year in a loss!

This year they can hang 40 and get a win for the ages in Tuscaloosa.

Why so optimistic?

I believe in the upgrades in the talent on the roster. I work with some people who need to see to believe, but I am convinced based on the two training camp scrimmages that I saw with my own eyes. This is the most talented team since the Texas Bowl winning team in 2014.

While we were all groaning and complaining about the end of the Missouri and Virginia Tech games, the SEC became a little softer. Sure Bama still rules the roost, but who are you afraid of after that?

No matter how it actually plays out, this team is totally built in Bret Bielema’s image and will be the representation of what to expect at Arkansas going forward.

 

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltW 31-21
Sat, Oct 31vs Missouri6:45 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 7@ Auburn11:45 AM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-01871
2.Bentonville6-11634
3.Conway (3)6-11562
4.Joe T. Robinson7-01045
5.North Little Rock6-1937
6.Bentonville West6-1883
7.Sheridan7-0709
8.Springdale Har-Ber5-2508
9.Greenwood5-24410
10Searcy6-1426
Others receiving votes: Bryant 22, Mountain Home 7, Sylvan Hills 7, Stuttgart 6, LR Christian 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Jacksonville 3, Fayetteville 2, Benton 2, Van Buren 1, Nashville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-0921
2.Conway (3)6-1642
3.Bentonville6-1624
4.North Little Rock6-1265
5.Bentonville West6-1193
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 15, Bryant 7.
CLASS 6A
1.Sheridan (16)7-0902
2.Searcy6-1711
3.Mountain Home (3)6-1415
4.Sylvan Hills5-2353
5.Benton4-3314
Others receiving votes: Van Buren 12, Lake Hamilton 5.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (17)7-0931
2.Greenwood (2)5-2762
3.Jacksonville6-1544
4.Farmington6-1243
Little Rock Parkview4-3245
Others receiving votes: LR Mills 7, HS Lakeside 5, Greenbrier 1, Camden Fairview 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)7-0921
2.Nashville (3)7-0792
3.Ozark7-0384
4.Elkins6-1335
5.Southside Batesville6-110—
Others receiving votes: Gravette 7, Fountain Lake 3, Forrest City 2, Lonoke 1, Booneville 1, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (13)6-1851
3.Mansfield (2)6-2542
2.Smackover6-1413
4.Walnut Ridge (3)6-1274
5.Rivercrest6-1245
Atkins6-124—
Others receiving votes: Fordyce (1) 14, Newport 9, Prescott 5, Glen Rose 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)8-0831
2.Baptist Prep (9)7-0822
3.Marked Tree6-1383
4.Earle6-1334
5.Gurdon5-2295
Others receiving votes: Dierks 11, Magnet Cove 4, Bearden 2, Des Arc 2, Hazen 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (6)6-0261
2.Cedar Ridge (4)6-0242
3.Magazine (2)6-0173
Others receiving votes: Izard County 5.