Congratulations to reader Mike D for the closest prediction last time of 51-24. His quote: “Felix has more yards than D-Mac this game. The expectations are high for him. He’ll be back on track just in time for Bama, and goes off!” Sounds about right…since I’m sure you meant all-purpose yards, right Mike? Seriously…as someone who has followed our site regularly from overseas (at times) this past year, we want to thank Mike D for his service to our country. A RazorBloggers t-shirt is the very least we can do to express our gratitude.
Speaking of those t-shirts, thanks again to our friends at Carpenter Clothing Co. for designing them for us.
And after a little internal debate since the Troy game, we’ve decided to go back to our old scoring method for determining the weekly predictions t-shirt winner. Instead of total points, we’ll again be using the smallest combined difference in each team’s final score. (And, of course, you still have to pick the winning team!) Our in-house mathematician/jurist Sunshine has worked up the official rules, if anyone’s interested.
So here we go:
Walking on Sunshine: I had this one down as a loss when the season started. ESPN…home field…raucous crowd…Saban’s first SEC home game. But now I think the Hogs will be able to control the line of scrimmage, which should allow the running game to quiet the crowd. Tejada’s leg wins it as time expires. Arkansas 30, Alabama 27.
HogBaller: The Hogs and Tide face their first real test of the 2007 season. Saban will have the ‘Bama boys ready to play in their first SEC home game. This one comes down to execution and defense. If the Hogs defense can hold back the Tide, I like their chances. But that’s assuming the offense can do more than just run…something I don’t believe they can do. “Tide defense steps up” – 34, “Houston we have a problem” – 24.
HogBlogger: This game will swing on how well the Arkansas defense plays. We were lucky last year with the missed field goals and extra points. I expect them to be better this year, and we don’t know how good we are yet. I’m being optimistic when my gut tells me that this could be trouble. Arkansas 27, Alabama 24.
TipsterHog: I want to believe…I really do. I want to believe this is not an ambush game and that David Lee can call big-time plays that win big-time games. But right now I don’t. Prove me wrong, guys. Alabama 31, Arkansas 27.
Leave a comment with your name, e-mail address and pick. And feel free to add your own take like “I have to pick ‘Bama…or the Sabanator will find me” or “Tide eats slop. Hogs roll.”
39-23 Bama
Saban exploits our secondary on O while trying to stall DMac and Felix. DMac and Felix show off…
Hogs – 28
Bama – 24
Are there two more unkonwn quantities in the SEC than Arkansas and Bama?
Looking online at predictions I keep seeing Bama come in at 24 points. I think this is about right. Its what they hung on Vandy and while our D is quite a bit better than Vandy the Tide is at home and JP Wilson won't play that bad again so I'd say 24 it is for Bama.
Now for our points. Like everyone else, I'd like to see more balance in the offense. This is so that if we are down late in a game and need to pass, we can do it but its not because we have this poor offense that can't rack up yards and put points on the board. We scored 27 on Auburn, 31 on Tenn., 26 on LSU and 28 on Florida. My point is that I don't think 24 points from Bama can beat us but its probably closer than I'd like.
Arkansas 30 Bama 24
Sorry guys- You are all way off here- it's an implosion early for John Parker Wilson (who some day will be forgotten for his 5 tunrovers in this game and be rembered for an assasination) Arkansas 31 Alabama 13. That's right- I said it
Other predictions
Tejada misses one field goal- makes 3
D-mac has 2 TD' s Defense has 1
HOGS WIN THIS ONE
ARK 31 BAMA 17
35 Hogs – 20 Tide
Hogs shut down the Tide Run game in second half, after a first half of 3-4 long runs by Grant. Tide pass game comes alive the second half, but is plauged in critical situations with drops. The hog O-Line wears the Tide down in the 2nd half.
Tough, tough game but we pull away in the 4th quarter after some key turnovers by Alabama………….the tide keys on D-mac and Felix has another wonderful game………….no returns for touchdown but plenty of good returns resulting in great field position………………Tejada makes 3 field goals when we stall inside the redzone…………
HOGS WIN IN A CLOSE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!
HOGS 31 – BAMA 21
Last year 10 win Bama traveled thru the T-Storm while Arkansas was coming off the bad season with something to prove. Last year Bama had the freshman kicker while we had the senior offensive line. Last year Bama's passing game was unproven while we stopped their supposedly strong running game. Last year Bama was rebuilding their defense while we broke in a new offensive Coord.
This year it's Darren against Saban. But, the difference makers, as has been addressed here plenty, are Felix and Tejada. Felix will give us good field position and Houston can call a conservative game and take the field goals. Dale is in hog heaven, the best tailback in America and a reliable field goal kicker. Against Saban this could be his undoing. If it is low scoring look for Arkansas to win, if most of your points predictions come true it's Bama's game.
Arkansas 19-14
I agree: a low-scoring affair as mis-cues and missed opportunities abound on both sides. the Hogs pull out a tough one in Bama:
Hogs 21-17
Bama 31
Hogs 27
Defensive holes are exposed. Passing game dooms Hogs. We can't pass and it appears we can't really defend the pass.
Just a guess.
Hogs 27
Bama 17
Interesting. I sense fear and trepidation in the Razorback nation. At the beginning of the season fans had the Bama game in the W column. It seemed that the first big test was to be Auburn. Now I'm sensing nervousness amongst the faithful. The difference: Saban. One poster says it's Saban vs D Mac. No, it's Saban vs Nutt. Carolina said it best, in that that Bama and Ark are the two most unknown qualities in the SEC. Unfortunately, Bama has shown more in the Vanderbilt win than Ark showed in the Troy win. This is the reason that some national predictors give Alabama a 3 point edge.* Call it the Saban factor. Or the negative Nutt factor. Trying to predict a score in this one is really tough. It dpends on how well, or poorly, the defenses play. If either team gets 2-3 TDs behind late in the game, it will be difficult for either to catch up without an established passing game. Based on what I've seen, Bama has more ability (coaching-wise) to catch up than Arkansas. The Hogs better get out faster than Bama with their running game and then hope their secondary holds up. If it's low scoring:Arkansas 23 Bama 17 (Tejada kicks 3 FGs). If high scoring: Arkansas 37 Bama 30.
Prognosticators sometime have their mysterious reasons. In today's Demo-Zette, AP handicapper Russo has Middle Tennessee scoring 13 on LSU. Since Va Tech and Miss State could only score 7 between them, Russo must think that LSU will be resting their starters and the MTSU will be playing LSU's 3rd and 4th stringers in the 4th quarter.. Or that LSU will have a let down after Va Tech. Wth the emphaisis on scoring differences affecting position in the polls, I don't think that Miles will let up on defense. However, I'm sure that Russo, who also picked Bama over the Hogs, must know more than I since he gets paid for what he does.
As I have said before, turnovers will decide the out come of this one. With the special teamers the Hogs possess, they should have the advantage with field position, and the ability to kick the 3. The passing game goes to Bama, while the running game goes to the Hogs. If Monk and Cleveland were availiable for this one, I would pick the Hogs hands down. The Hogs will have to have a couple of big plays down field to either Crawford or Tuck, when Bama stacks the box against our RBs. Defense against Bama's Terry Grant should be better than what he has seen so far. First 2 games were too easy. This should be a close one. Hogs-27, Tide-24.
definitely hogs.
hogs: 34
crap (aka, tide): 31
The Arkansas/Alabama game is the key game this week for most of us, but Tennessee/Florida is considered to be the premier game in the SEC. Others think that USC/ Nebraska is the most important game nationally but I disagree. The game that will have the most national attention is one that is between two teams that have not won a game. Notre Dame/Michigan. these are the two winningest programs in college football and milllions will be watching, and many of those will be rooting for the team they hate the least. (For me, that's ND). There is a Hog connection in this series. In 1979 Notre Dame beat Michigan 12-10 by a blocked field goal. The TV color commentator for that game was none other than…..Frank Broyles, who had recently become the AD for Arkansas. On a historical note, that blocked punt was accomplished by an alley-oop play where the blocker leaped up on top of the backs of the defensive line to gain height. That particluar maneuver was immediately outlawed by the NCAA and is still illegal today. And our Frank, in a peripheral way, was involved.
Arkansas has a good running game but not enough balance to overcome an improved Bama squad.
Alabama 20
Arkansas 17
Before writing this let me start with a disclaimer that I don't bet on games and am certainly no expert in that area. So if I'm off here please feel free to correct me.
I was reading the Bama blog earlier this week and they were talking about how the line favored Alabama and that was proof that the polls were meaningless since we are ranked and they aren't yet they are clearly the better team because Vegas has them listed as such. This link has an interesting line about the Bama game about how the line is for the public and the experts are picking Arkansas. With Saben and Alabama being household names nationally they have to give Arkansas points to even out the betting. Lines are not as much about who is better as they are about enticing folks to bet on both sides.
NCAA Football Week Three Odds Page and games profile
There's always a couple of conference games that leave us talking the next week about the referees and I have a feeling this one could come down to officiating. But I'm still going with the Hogs, in OT, 34-31.
I think our D takes off from where the last half of thier last ballgame. We will have a big game on the ground with a few key passes. Like someone else said, with our kickoff returns and Tejada, you can count on multiple field goals.
Hogs-31
Tide- 17
Hogs 33
bama 17
Felix and DMac get theirs, 100+ each, but Casey also has a good showing, 175 and 2 TD's, one of those to a WR. Tejada continues to shine…including a 50+ yarder. Hog fans rejoice. Bama makes excuses….again.
I need a new t-shirt, so I hope I'm right
Hogs 30
Bam: 24
Both teams try to shake the dust off of their passing games…once the smoke clears:
Arkansas – 23
Alabama – 13
The fact that Alabama did not dominate Vanderbilt offensively is disturbing. Their defense will be steam-rolled by Darren and Felix early. Casey hits 50% of his passes without a TD or an INT. Princess Leigh Tiffin hits half of his field goals. Darren gets both TDs for Arkansas (1 rush, 1 KR) but Felix has more rushing yards and Tejada nails all three of his field goals, including one from 50+. Houston Nutt acts like we've never won before. Saban gives all the credit for the loss to McFadden. The record continues to skip.
Thank you, Razorbloggers, for the shirt. I haven't seen it yet, but I am sure it will be nice. 10KHog, maybe this is your week. My 'fearless prediction' …
Hogs–37
Tide–17
No nervousness in this faithful fan. The first half will be close (thanks to Tejada), but then DMac turns it up in the 2nd with 2 TDs (3 total for the game). I see C. Dick getting his first PASSING TD of the season too. GO HOGS GO!!!
Bama takes advantage of our secondary and our lack of a passing attack.
Bama 35
Hogs 24
Hogs jump out to 21-3 halftime lead as Wilson throws two picks and Dick throws two scores, one on a deep ball to D-Mac at flanker. Bama finds offensive rhythm and scores ten in the third as the Hog offense stalls. The Tide put another TD on the board midway through the fourth, but Tejada kicks a couple of field goals and the defense holds at the end.
Arkansas 27, Alabama 20
On the whole, I'm glad this game comes before Kentucky; our defense needs a week of experience before facing Woodson.
I think it will be a close game with Hogs winning.
Hogs 21
Bama 17
If you can't get to the BCS with Darren and this game plan then it's time to change the game plan.
Buck Harvey: Emmitt II – The flight of a dream
For all you Cowboy fans….
Hogs 23 Alabama 21
Another in a long line of close games.
"saban-fever is given the chill pill"
pigs— 29
tide— 3
"If you can’t get to the BCS with Darren and this game plan then it’s time to change the game plan."
What is this? Its like you have these random outburst of negtivity. One game at a time. We're not talkling about BCS yet?
I don't have a good feeling about this game. I hope I'm wrong (and if I am I should be condemned for this prediction)
Bama 28
Hogs 17
Why Not, Superior is. Where is your faith. Let's set a goal or two. This is Darren's Heisman year for goodness sake.
Blind,
Oh, was that a goal? I thought it was a veiled ultimatem that if we don't go undefeated its time to run Nutt out of town. Sometimes its hard to differentiate between your "faith" and your agenda. Let's wait until the end of the year to assess our coaches. We as fans do so much damage when we tear down our team. Here is an interesting piece from Stewart Mandel about the effect of an unsupportive fan base.
", shortly before Signing Day that year, a group of alumni from across the country sent a letter to the school's board of trustees denouncing the "pronounced and persistent deterioration of the Notre Dame football program," which included the line, "Although we continue to support [Willingham] and hope he succeeds … absent significant progress in 2004, a coaching change will become necessary." Gee … do you think that helped recruiting? Do you think Weis would currently be assembling the No. 1 class in the country if they'd written a similar letter this past January?"
Bama – 31
Hogs – 24
OK – I really believe Hogs will win, but projecting a Bama win greatly increases my odds of winning a t-shirt should Bama actually pull it off.
So there ya go… I've sold my hog soul for a free t
.
I'm going 34-28 Hogs, just like last year special teams is the x-factor
OK here it goes. Since I am currently in the country of Nepal and will be in Pakistan when the game comes on I am still nervous. You know the nervousness that comes with the butterflies. I sure wish I was home for this one.
Arkansas 28
Bama 26
I have some pastor friends in Alabama that I sure would like to see cry in their pulpits on Sunday
Hogs – 23
Bama – 27
34-20 Hogs
4 TD's, probably 3 offensive(2 DMac (1 passing, 1 running) 1 King Felix (rushing) and 1 return (kickoff or int) and 2 FG's
Without Joe Kines to lead them, this Bama defense will cease to have the Hogs number.
Defense will shut down running game and tighten up in the red-zone but will give up some big pass plays that will flip the field a couple times.
Hogs punting game will pen them inside the 20 all day
Alabama wins by 10, though I'm hoping by more.
Carolina,
Seems like a very simple fact to me. If you can't succeed at ball control with Darren then when do you expect to ride that horse to a BCS? Is there a simpler fact in football today. You guys see anything threatening as criticism and then condemn criticism rather than defend the simple facts.
A divided fan base is disaster, especially in Arkansas. Where is the leadership to reunite the Hog Nation? Hopefully 11-1 and a BCS will do it. It will certainly get Darren the Heisman.
This is my last post on this thread. I promise. One thing that strikes me as I read different predictions on the web or TV about this game they seem to be centered around the fact that the Tide D will win the game. I know Saben is a D genius and will put a good team together in a couple of years but this isn't it. In fact the biggest weakness on the team is the D line which is the worst kind of news for playing us. Its going to be a tough game and they may get us but they're going to have to score some points to do it. I'd be shocked if we failed to score more than 20.
Heg Yeg, who are you a fan of?
31-24 HOGS
McFadden needs this game to be big. National exposure, Nick Saben and who can miss out on our very own AD Frank dishing out the player introductions as our O and D hit the field. If I was a betting man I would place money on the first sentence out of his mouth being "to start off, leading "Houston Nutt's offense" (after a slight stutter and thinking he should of just said MY 1960's offense) is Heisman Candidate Darren McFadden." But that's neither here nor there. Bama's front 7 are just to young to stop run DMC and co, so as usual we will be boring and out coached, but in the end DMc will be enough to win. Will my shirt come as a 100% cotton or a cotton polyester blend? I want my size selection to be slimming and fitting.
I'll also predict Tulsa beats BYU by 10.
This game will be close in the first half only . The second half will be a whole nother ball game for one of these clubs I am hopeing the Hogs. I am praying to my dear sweet precious baby Jesus that the Hogs blow them out the water after the adjustments .28-17 Hogs
Hogs – 31
bama – 28
Randy Kelly returns a fumble for a TD
Ooops, Defense scores a TD and the wheels fall off for bama.
Hogs – 27
Tide – 35
I'm hoping this one is going to be a nail biter, but I feel that we will have too many "first SEC away game jitters" from our Freshman (I mean, Junior) QB to hold of Bama.
I hope I'm wrong.
400+ yards for the Hogs; 300- yards for the Tide. If the turnovers balance out, and I trust they will:
Arkansas 34
Alabama 14
Casey Dick lead offenses scored 26,28, and 31 on LSU,FL, and TN last year. Is Bama's defense better than those defenses? Bama's offense despite all the hype managed only 2 TD's against Vandy.
Arkansas 34
Alabama 24
This one sets up bad for the Hogs. Nutt goes ultraconservative and we see a heavy dose of the new Racehorse offense once the Razorbacks get inside the Bama 35. Hogs settle for FGs on three possessions. The Tide pulls away late with a defensive TD.
Bama 31
Hogs 16
(Hope I'm wrong)