Sunshine finally got on the board last week with his first prediction win of the year. So after three games: HogBlogger 1, TipsterHog 1, Sunshine 1. The game is afoot.
Congratulations to reader SoonerSooie for the closest prediction of 24-20. His quote: “I am thinking that HDN and staff realize that there will be a Hawg Nation meltdown if we lose to Vandy again, and that this is a must win. … I just don’t feel real good about the D just yet, so I don’t really think we hold them down all that much.” Pretty close. But if he would’ve accurately predicted exactly how the Ducks were going to beat the Sooners later in the day, it would’ve really creeped me out. So here we go this week:
Walking on Sunshine: After watching Vandy carve us up running the ball, I have gone back and forth on this one all week. Can we fix the run defense and tackling problems in one week? Joe Kines will have something ready for our freshman QB, but something tells me he will be up to the task. Bama is overrated, and I believe the crowd will be a factor on a beautiful day in the Ozarks. Arkansas 17, Alabama 16.
HogBlogger: We can’t have any mistakes in the kicking game or let turnovers bite us. Our offensive line must play better than it did at Vandy. The defense needs to not break too often. Herring is challenged to come up with a scheme that effectively uses the talent we have. The Gus Bus better roll or we are toast. Arkansas 31, Alabama 24.
TipsterHog: That old hag Shirley Q brings up her Big Beefy Bama boys up for a visit. I’m afraid Sunshine’s weather forecast might be wrong, and if it is “hog sloppy” conditions, our run defense will make us a loser. Here’s hoping Mother Nature helps us out for the second week in a row. Arkansas 28, Alabama 21.
Leave a comment with your pick and feel free to add your own take like “‘What is this ship’s name, Mr. Cob?’ ‘Alabama, sir.’” or “Those guys with detergent boxes and toilet paper are idiots. Hogs roll.”
Bama's OC' Draw Play Dave Rader's idea of offence is don't score to early. That's the only thing that will slow down the run against our leaky D. What's exciting is watching a future all america that doesn't know how to lose. Hog's overcome their own head coach again win with four td's and three field goals. Hog's 37 Dave's Draws 31.
The Gus Bus will be rolling as Bama comes to town and I expect the Hawgs to take this one and keep it for all of DDRRS to share. Team Springdale with the help of a Monk will do the grunt work and get some points on the board as Gus finnally gets to expand the playbook just a bit more. Herring could very well lose us this game, as Nutt goes into SUPER CONSERVITIVE MODE in the 4th but I expect Gus to put enough points on the board to cover us for a win. So the Houston Nutt Era lives on for another week. The players will be excited and gay and there will be the typical hugging and rejoycing of the MSM with Gus in yet another state of confusion. The usually Nutt Speak about how this win was so precious, but it took absolute veto power to get some of points on the board and how loving that helmet so much to give it your all against 'BAMA is such a big deal will reign surpreme in the paper come Sunday. Overall we have the same usually stat line, Mustain= Stellar, Kicker= 0/2 FG, 3/4 EP, Gus= confused by Nutt, Nutt= egomanic…. Springdale 27 Elephants 24
Hogs show a good balance of run and pass again this week, score 2 on the ground and 2 more through the air (plus a field goal) and outscore the Tide, who rolls up close to 300 yards on the ground. Hogs 31 Tide 28
McFadden gets back on track with 100+ yards and Mustain goes for over 200 again. Damian Williams is the go-to receiver this week. Attendance: 71, 947
6 predictions so far…all saying Arkansas wins. Sorry folks – back to reality. Our defense is shaky and the Bama ground game punishes our inability to tackle. A complete absence of fundamental tackling skills is not "corrected" in the course of 3 days by "making some adjustments" and "getting guys in the right position." The offense shows improvement again….we hang around, but our DEF stays on the field too long…again. BAMA 31 HOGS 21.
Hogs 10 Tide 14
Tide scores winning TD on last drive. Mitch plays well but has more to learn. Defense finally gets a turnover. HDN still in hot water. Fans unhappy with loss and weather.
I can't believe TipsterHog is picking us to win. Something has changed.
31-14 Arkansas
Mustain finally gets tested and once again "scores too quickly". I still don't understand that concept???
Bama runs all over the defense. We will hear again how tired and hurt the defense is. Someone on that side of the ball needs to step up and HIT SOMEBODY!
Close game in the end, with the "quick scoring" Hogs coming out on top. Why does it end this way? That is because it will be such a tight game that HDN cannot put us into the "four corners" scheme and we score the winning points with one minute to go. Long pass to No. 1, BABY!!!
Hogs: 24
Bama: 21
Go Springdale!!!!
Bama scores two touchdown through the air and on the ground. Arkansas misses FGs all day and can't help but only score TD's. Mitch throws for two and runs another one in. DMac goes wild for a 150 and a score. Hogs prevail even after allowing Darby to run for 200. Hogs 35 Bama 31
Hogs D shows up for this game and O has improved as the team chemistry continues to kick in. Bama's run game is good but not good enough. Hogs score via airmail 2 times and on the ground 2 times. Hogs 31 Bama 21.
If Vandy can run on us, then 'Bama will have a field day. Expect 6 yards a carry for the first 'Bama drive. I expect our offense to struggle early, but come on in the second half. 'Bama wins a close one 27-24.
Alabama is scoring at 26+ PPG and holding opponents to a hair over 11 PPG. 29 of their 79 point overall total has come from FGs and PATs. 7-9 in the FG department. The Hog defense is going to produce a meaner line backing game to hold Bama down some.
Sunshine believes that the 40% chance of thunderstorms will NOT scatter over DWR stadium. We've already seen the Rainbow over that way this Friday night so he may have something. Rainbows are good for the home team.
The passing game as well as the running game should flourish with good footing and throw a couple of field goals in there for the "don't score too quick" lost souls. The footing is so good that the Hogs block two Bama field goal attempts making it Hogs 34 – Bama 21.
Short and simple, Hewitt shows he is a true LB(with 10+ tkls) and helps D out in a big way, Hogs 31 Bummer 17.