Monday, November 29, 2010

2011 Season Prognostications (Already?)


Arkansas awaits its bowl destination capping the 2010 campaign but it's never too early to pull out the crystal ball and see what awaits for the 2011 Razorbacks in what should be a much-hyped season if one Ryan Mallett doesn't forgo his final year of eligibility.

Sept. 3, 2011 vs Missouri State

Arkansas opened 2009 with a convincing 48-10 walloping of the Bears in Little Rock, and it will be in Fayetteville this time. Expect more points and the defense to do its job as well.

Arkansas 56, Missouri State 6

Sept. 10, 2011 vs TBA

The Razorbacks have not announced an opponent for this date yet. The general consensus among Razorback fans is that Jeff Long is looking for a decent opponent, maybe a TCU, for Little Rock.

Sept. 17, 2011 vs Troy

Arkansas has dominated Troy over the last decade and it shouldn't be any different this time, as the Razorbacks coast to a victory in preparation for the SEC opener.

Arkansas 49, Troy 14

Sept. 24, 2011 at Alabama

Bobby Petrino has not beaten Alabama since taking over at Arkansas, with his best chance coming this past year and the Hogs were unable to finish in the 4th quarter. I think Arkansas developed a pattern of getting off to a fast start and controlling the line of scrimmage near the end of 2010 on the road and they will do this against Alabama and pull out a win.

Arkansas 41, Alabama 31

Oct. 1, 2011 vs Texas A&M in Dallas

The Aggies have been bested by Arkansas twice in a row and are looking to finally eke out a win in the Southwest Classic, but I don't think it will happen this time around either. Arkansas will run rampant through the Aggie defense and also hit for some big plays.

Arkansas 38, Texas A&M 20

Oct. 8, 2011 vs Auburn

I think this is the game Arkansas will most want to win in 2011. Arkansas was embarrased by the Tigers this past year and will have revenge on its mind. The Hogs dismantled Auburn in Fayetteville two years ago and look for something similar but not quite that good this time around.

Arkansas 42, Auburn 29

Oct. 22, 2011 at Ole Miss

Whether Houston Nutt is the coach of the Rebels or not, Arkansas will win this game. The Rebels will struggle mightily again next season and Arkansas should be clicking on all cylinders again at this point. Look for plenty of offensive firepower displayed.

Arkansas 45, Ole Miss 17

Oct. 29, 2011 at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt. Enough said. New coach and still worst team in the conference.

Arkansas 59, Vanderbilt 10

Nov. 5, 2011 vs South Carolina

The defending Eastern Division champs will look to avenge a beatdown from a year ago in Fayetteville but it won't happen. Marcus Lattimore will get shut down again and the Razorback offense will put up points.

Arkansas 43, South Carolina 22

Nov. 12, 2011 vs Tennessee

Derek Dooley's Volunteers come to town for the first time since 2006, and the Hogs, who will likely be in the Top 5 or maybe No. 1 at this point, should have their way with UT.

Arkansas 38, Tennessee 27

Nov. 19, 2011 vs Mississippi State (LR)

War Memorial Stadium, where Bobby Petrino is undefeated. Don't see any reason why this will change against Dan Mullen's Bulldogs.

Arkansas 34, Mississippi State 24

Nov. 26, 2011 at LSU

Arkansas finishes its first undefeated season in 47 years with a 40-36 win over the Tigers to advance to Atlanta and put itself in a position to win an SEC and BCS title. Petrino will be hailed as the greatest coach in school history.

Arkansas 40, LSU 36

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2 comments:

Luke Dockery said...

So these predictions are assuming that Mallett returns, right?

If he does, I just don't see a Mallett led team going undefeated. If he doesn't, Wilson/Mitchell is enough of an unknown that I don't know what to expect week in week out.

With Mallett, I think we're about 10-2. With Wilson, I think we could be better than that, or worse than that.

If we are undefeated going into the LSU game, watch out. LSU's most dangerous to us when we're supposed to beat them.

Derek Oxford said...

Although Mallett made a lot of questionable decisions throwing the football, I still think he is the most dangerous weapon in college football with his arm.

A lot of his worst games were in the first half of the season when we weren't committed to running the ball at all and teams were dropping eight and Mallett was forcing it into spots that weren't there.


With the running game on deck now, and the fact he would be a three-year starter, he would be even more dangerous next season.

I think 11-1 next year could win the West.