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&M6:00 PM
ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 10Tennessee3:15 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltTBA
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bentonville (15)4-01921
2.Conway3-11582
3.Shiloh Christian (2)4-01533
4.Bentonville West (2)4-01434
5.Joe T. Robinson4-01075
6.Searcy4-0966
7.North Little Rock4-0899
8.Bryant (1)1-3378
9.Sylvan Hills4-031—
10.Benton2-2189
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 17, Sheridan 13, Greenwood 9, Fayetteville 9, El Dorado 5, Mountain Home 5, Stuttgart 5, Pulaski Academy 4, LR Mills 4, Farmington 3, LR Parkview 2.
CLASS 7A
1.Bentonville (15)4-0921
2.Conway3-1652
3.Shiloh Christian (2)4-0563
4.Bentonville West (2)4-0524
5.North Little Rock4-0205
Others receiving votes: Bryant (1) 14, Springdale Har-Ber 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (19)4-0991
2.Sylvan Hills3-1603
3.Benton (1)2-2462
4.Sheridan4-029—
4.El Dorado3-1264
Others receiving votes: Mountain Home 25, Van Buren 15.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (20)4-01001
2.Greenwood2-2612
3.Little Rock Parkview3-146—
4.Farmington4-0444
5.Little Rock Mills4-015—
Others receiving votes: Valley View 10, Greenbrier 10, HS Lakeside 4, Jacksonville 4, Camden Fairview 4, Pine Bluff 2.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)4-0951
2.Nashville (2)4-0772
3.Gosnell (1)4-0433
4.Ozark4-029—
5.Elkins3-155
Others receiving votes: Fountain Lake 10, Gravette 8, Arkadelphia 6, Forrest City 5, Hamburg 3, Pottsville 2, Lonoke 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Fordyce (12)2-1851
2.Bismarck (1)3-1612
3.Smackover (4)4-0464
4.Mansfield (2)3-2383
5.Rivercrest223-1225
Others receiving votes: Glen Rose 20, Walnut Ridge (1) 12, Rison 8, Palestine-Wheatley 3, Newport 2, Quitman 2, Atkins 1.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (15)5-0931
2.Baptist Prep (4)4-0712
3.Junction City2-3303
4.Marked Tree3-122—
5.Gurdon3-219—
Others receiving votes: East Poinsett County 17, Earle (1) 13, Bigelow 11, Bearden 7, Hazen 6, Dierks 5, Des Arc 3, Hector 2, England 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (8)4-0341
2.Cedar Ridge (6)4-0322
3.Magazine (1)2-012—
Others receiving votes: Izard County 8, Woodlawn 3, Rose Bud 1.