Your 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks
August 2nd, 2007 | by Scott |I know it is still a full month before my hawgs kick off against the national powerhouse Troy (hold on while I look up their mascot…there it is) Trojans (duh). But the excitement around the Waco office is building to a fever pitch. At least my Steelers kick off the NFL pre-season this Sunday.
Anyway, McFadden is back for his Heisman campaign and likely last season. Jones is there to share carries. Hillis is healthy to create the most potent backfield in the country. Dick will have had all off-season to practice with the starting unit. The disgruntled are gone and the heat can abate off coach Nutt for awhile.
So, it’s time to make my yearly predictions of how the Pigs will fare. I know they have been rated as having the 3rd easiest schedule in the nation, but that’s not my fault. Anyway, here we go:
Sep. 1–Troy: If this isn’t a victory I will shave my head. Win
Sep. 15–@ Bama: Saban will have the home crowd fired up and no telling what his payroll is now for recruiting but Arkansas should take advantage of their open date and pull out a Win.
Sep. 22–Kentucky: Does that big dude still quarterback them? Win
Sep. 29–North Texas: A breather. Win
Oct. 6–UT-Chattanooga: A breather, the sequel. Win
Oct. 13–Auburn. So, I see the Hawgs being 5-0 when the Tigers, looking to bounce back from a disappointing ‘05 season and a shellacking put on them at home last year by McFadden and crew, come to town. I think the home crowd delivers this one for us. Win
Oct. 20–@ Ole Miss. This could be a potential let-down game if the Auburn game is as dramatic as I anticipate. Should still be a Win.
Oct. 27–Florida International. I know, I know. But we did play USC the past two years. Win.
Nov. 3–South Carolina. I always dread playing this team. It’s at home though so Steve will be crying on the sidelines about something. Win.
Nov. 10–@ Tennessee. A potential 9-0 and a top 10 ranking going into Knoxville. Haven’t we been here before? I think the bubble bursts here against a vastly improved Vol unit. Loss
Nov. 17–Mississippi State. Shouldn’t be a problem. Win.
Nov. 23–@ LSU. This game should be for the SEC West crown. Unfortunately, it is in the Bayou. And LSU has pwned us in recent years. Loss.
My take: 10-2 with a nice little bowl to go along with it.
18 Responses to “Your 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks”
By That Girl on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
WHATEVER! War Eagle! (last year was a total fluke, I’m sure!)
…and you NEVER count out an Alabama football team even if it is Troy.
By Scott on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
Troy is in Alabama? Good to know.
By Donna on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
Scott has been drinking the Kool-aid…..
Roll Tide!
By len on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
We own Alabama. The whole state. ‘Nuff said.
My wife is from Bama so I like running smack on them. The cupboard is too bare this year for Saban to do much. But after this year watch out for the Tide.
Since I love in the Vol Nation (the most obnoxious sports fans ever) I would trade it all for a win over UT.
You know, that schedule is really embarrassing, I don’t care how tough the SEC part of it is.
By Doug Freeman on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
Scott, looks as if the people that carry rolls of toilet paper and empty tide soap boxes are on your case. I never figured out what the roll of toilet paper and roll tide have in common. I suppose there is a reason because you never want to be without toilet paper. Most places down there still use Sears catalogues.
By Matt on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
What’s the over/under on the number of “business” text messages between Nutt and attractive female reporters?
By Scott on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
Donna, no Kool-Aid here. Just the nectar of a 10-2 season.
Len, it is a pretty weak schedule.
Dad, Matt–easy!
By Mike the Eyeguy on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
I’ll keep my powder dry for now, but I will say this: both Florida State and Missouri once made the mistake of underestimating Troy. Florida State survived (barely), but Mizzou did not.
By LukeD on Aug 2, 2007 | Reply
Troy, N. Texas, UTC and Florida International…if you look at Nutt’s record against legitimate football teams, you see why he is a mediocre coach.
McFadden is amazing. If he can stay healthy, we should easily get eight wins. Unfortunately, he started to show a tendency toward being injury-prone towards the end of the season last year, and if he goes down, so do the Hogs.
It will be an interesting year in Fayetteville; also interesting will be how a certain “high school” coach does in Tulsa…
By Justin on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Watch out for mississippi state… they could suprise you.
10-2 with that schedule might get you 15th in the country. Its gonna be embarrassing to be undefeated for you, because all the talk will be about how you’ve been playing high school caliber football teams.
By matt elliott on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Think you can own the whole state of Alabama two seasons in a row? Yeah, good luck with that whole thing…
By Scott on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Mike, it’s happened to us before.
Luke, injuries are always a concern.
Justin, Miss. State always play us tough. But we should be fine at home.
Matt, feeling confident? How confident? Care to put a book on it?
By matt elliott on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Dude, I’d bet against THAT even if I weren’t from Alabama. I don’t wanna steal your money. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel; it’s just too easy.
By Scott on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
You are so on.
By Jason Bybee on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Arkansas / Auburn will be a much better game than Arkansas / Bama.
By KS on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply
Lose to Auburn and LSU. Beat the rest. BTW: Troy may give them a better game than you expect.
By greg on Aug 4, 2007 | Reply
I would agree that Troy shouldn’t be underestimated, but Missouri lost @ Troy. I don’t think they can win in Fayetteville.
Alabama is a hard call. I think Arkansas will be better than Alabama, but the Hogs should have lost to them last year in Fayetteville. On the other hand, they have been very successful in Tuscaloosa since joining the SEC - around .500 I believe. I give them an edge, but it won’t be easy.
Auburn is a hard call, too. Sometimes, we embarrass them (see 2001, 2002, 2006). But other times we lose when we shouldn’t (see 2003 @ Fayetteville). Still, I think I’d give them that game.
I think it will be hard to beat Tennessee in Knoxville (as always), but if TN can’t stop McFadden any better than they did last year, they might have a shot.
I don’t think they’ll win at LSU, either.
It all comes down to o-line and passing. If they’re good, the Hogs will be hard to stop with that backfield. But if they struggle passing like last year (or blocking for the backs), it’ll be more like last year - not quite good enough.
By Scott on Aug 6, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, I may be underestimating Troy but I’ll still shave my head if Arkansas loses that game.