Congratulations to Cheli W. for the closest prediction last week of 26-20. Her quote: “A tough loss to Houston Dale.” Too true…although ‘tough’ might not even be a strong enough word, Cheli. ‘Gut-wrenching’ seems more appropriate.
Cheli will be receiving a RBN t-shirt courtesy of Carpenter Clothing Co. for her accurate prognostication. And that’s certainly much more rewarding than what the county election board gives you for picking the winning candidate, isn’t it?
So here we go:
Walking on Sunshine: A high scoring affair this week. Tulsa is light up front on defense and relies on bringing pressure from different spots in their 3-3-5 alignment. This should leave ample holes for the Razorbacks to exploit. However, after two devastatingly close losses that probably knocked us out of a bowl game, look for a letdown. Tulsa 38, Arkansas 34.
HogBaller: Gus ‘Mal-A-Zahn’ comes to town and brings an air show with him. The Razorbacks will have to play ‘fast and loose’ just to stay in this one. And even though the defense and special teams (again) show their ugly side, the Hogs make a game of it for three quarters. But it won’t be enough as mistakes and breakdowns cost the Hogs victory again. No Huddle-No Mercy 56, Bobby’s Boys 30.
HogBlogger: The ‘Gus Bus’ returns but doesn’t slow down to allow the Hogs’ secondary a chance to catch it. I’d love to be wrong about this. Tulsa 38, Arkansas 28.
TipsterHog: This is what it’s come to? All of us picking a loss to Tulsa? No way…can’t do it. The Razorbacks run the ball and try to play ‘keep away’ from the Hurricane’s high-powered offense. In the end, the Hogs win in a barnburner. Arkansas 35, Tulsa 34.
Leave a comment with your name, e-mail address and pick. And feel free to add your own take like “I hear ‘Joe the Plumber’ is a Golden Hurricane fan” or “Tulsa spreads the wealth. Hogs roll.”
63-28 Tulsa. We wont be able to stop the best offense in the nation.
45-35, Tulsa. This sucks.
Will be a close game until the fourth when the Hogs find a way to melt down again. Or get more help from the Zebras. Flip a coin.
Tulsa-38
Hogs-21
I'm going out on a limb and predicting a low score (combined 50 points) . .
Arkansas 26
Tulsa 24
This is a big game for Tulsa, most of their opponents are, well, not SEC teams so winning this game will be a boon for them in the BCS. I think Guzzie is going to poor it on and has the talent to exploit our weaknesses, namely our corners. Their defense & their lines however can't match up with us and that will start to take its toll in the second half for sure. Because we can't kick a field goal nor make any type of smart decision, it seems, on special teams, Tulsa in a shootout:
Hogs: 49
Tulsa: 59
Even with basketball on grass, football games are won in the trenches. Michael Smith runs Hogwild. Gus never gets the ball. Arkansas 42-29
Wild Hog applies to Defense this week.
Hogs 38 Hurricane 35
HOGS 42
Huricane- 31
After watching tulsa play Sunday night it is obvious we are physically superior to this team and since 72 is out and I have been praying for 24, we should win this shoot out. The key will to be 1) to win the coin toss, we are 4-0 if we win the toss and 2) to get in the endzone early and often… if we do not score on the first drive we may be in for a long day…. I believe in Head Coach Bobby Petrino
The Hogs won't be playing against near the athletes they were playing against Ole Miss.
This alone will make the Hogs more consistant.
With the way Tulsa stack's up on defense, our O-Line will be dominant, and Casey will not be required to go deep very often.
That bodes well for a guy like T.J. Williams.
I don't see the Canes rolling up a bunch of points either.
We WILL get a few turnovers. Bank on it.
Smith will also run wild.
Hogs 42 – Canes 34
Hogs steal a game somehow… 36-35. If I'm wrong, this will be ugly for the Hogs.
Arkansas is considered an underdog? at home? to TULSA??? I know they're ranked 18 and they have the most high powered offense in the nation, but does that really mean they're gonna win? Considering how this season has gone down, yes it will. But I will never put up a prediction where the hogs will lose. I say the razorback defense finds a way to stop Guz's offense and the hogs' offense finds plenty of holes in the Tulsa defense to keep the ball out of their hands.
Razorbacks pull of a close one
38-Arkansas
31-Tulsa
Forget Palin and Biden, Michael Smith should've been the top pick for running mate…SMITTY PIGS 49, GUSSY CANES 38
I think everyone underestimates what Tulsa has. They were pretty good before the offense got the Springdale boost. However, I don't really view it as a revenge game since nobody is really left for Gus to show-up, but still a big game against a BCS opponent will have them fired up.
Malzahn's Metallic Monsoons: 44
Petrino's Petulant Piggies: 24
Tulsa hasn't proven themselves against a quality opponent in a quality conference. Besides the blowouts against the 3 of the top teams in the nation, the hogs have been in every game.
Hogs will play more zone, will bend but not break – lots of Tulsa field goals in this one. Smith will have a career day as Petrino controls the clock.
Hogs 32
Tulsa 26
Arkansas 35
Tulsa 32
Tulsa is good, but not quite up to par with an SEC team.
Can everyone stop the Malzahn animosity angle? Everyone who he probably hates is gone. M. Smith for MVP of season (obvious). Don't know how bad this season would be without him.
Hogs 35
miniCanes 31
I see this game going either way. Could be close or could be a blowout. If the Hogs defense shows up and wraps up Hogs win. However I have not seen enough consistency out of our Defense to feel real good about it. This is a hard one but I am gonna say defense finally shows up for Homecoming but the Special Teams come up short.
Tulsa- 42
Hogs – 41
Comes down to a missed fieldgoal by the hogs.
I sure hope I am wrong!!!!
Hogs : 24
Tulsa : 21
The Hogs haven't scored on ANYONE this year. Hopefully I'm wrong and this will be the week they figure out how to cross the goal line.
CUSA is a long way from SEC. Barring a ridiculous imbalance in mistakes:
Tulsa 42
Arkansas 52
Tulsa averages over 55 points a game, Arkansas averages 18. Tulsa's highest scoring game, 77. Arkansas's highest scoring game, 28.
Arkansas's offense hasn't been productive for a full half yet this year, but can Tulsa score 55 against an SEC defense? Probably not, but it won't be as close as Hog fans want it to be.
Tulsa 45
Arkansas 21
I refuse to drink the Tulsa kool-ade. I refuse to get on the Gus-Bus. I despise their running it up on Bowling Green in last year's GMAC Bowl, that was absolutely despicable. Houston taking all the abuse from the majority of Hawg-Nashun while Gus got a free pass was a crock of bs.
Tulsa has played nothing comparable to an SEC Schedule.
Hogs have great potential to control the ball and the clock…. and regardless of Tulsa's bogus offensive stats, the Hog defense is better than anything Tulsa has ever seen… EVER. And, the Hogs aren't even good. (but they will be!)
Arkansas 38 Tulsa 24
Have you seen Tulsa's schedule? I can't imagine they'll pour on 60 points against us. I can't imagine they'll stop Michael Smith. This will be a good game, but Hogs will find a way!!!!
Hurricane Gus: 34
Hurrican Bobby: 39
Hogs win in a 'shootout', but seeing how we cannot score more than 28, just not that big of a shootout. We try to control the time of possesion, but M. Smith's elusiveness and speed makes it hard with 2, maybe even 3 long runs going the distance. C. Dick will have another INT, but will also throw for 2 TDs. The D gets burnt early in the game, but settles in the second half (I hope).
Tulsa–26
Hogs–28
With 2 more wins needed to get into a bowl. Folks, we can definately win 2 of our last 3 this season. What a great suprise that would be! But let's get by Tulsa 1st!
The offense JFB said wouldn't work in the SEC: 49
The school who let the idiot run Gus off: 31
Arkansas doesn't have enough bullets in the gun to fire for 60 minutes. Tulsa does. Give CBP a year or two and we'll switch the scores.
M. Smith has 600 all purpose yards — in this game alone.
Pigs roll 41-39.
The Razorbacks keep Tulsa off the field enough to pull out win.
Ark – 38
Tulsa – 35
I love it. Some of these these fans remind me of yellow dog Democrats who will stick with their candidates no matter how bad they are. For example, picking the Hogs to score 40 or more points when they have averaged 23 their last three games and couldn't score 30 against powerhouses Western Illiinois and Louisiana Monroe. Sure the Hogs have improved, but what makes one think that other teams, such as Tulsa, have not? Those who are dismissive of Tulsa aand Conference USA is an arrogance not borne out by the realities of college football. a Few reminders: East Carolina-VA Tech, Toledo – Michigan, Middle-Tennessee – Maryland, Boise State-Oklahoma, and last, but not least, that that tradionla football ACC power Duke- Vanderbilt (last weekend). Oh, I forgot Citidal-Arkansas. As for a quality opponent, do you really think that the Hogs are one of the best in the SEC? loyalty is admirable, but it's also what makes gamblers rich. The Hogs are the underdogs in this one and we can hope that they can pull off an upset. You better believe that Petrino and stafff are not overlooking Tulsa and don't want a repition of Texa, Florida, Alabama.
Nw here are some realities, other than statistics t face or the gus Mahlzahn revenge factor (which I don't think exists) .
Tulsa's receiver are tremendous, Anyone watching the UCF game should aahve marveled at their hands and routes (Several of Tulsa's receivers are from Arkansas – including Clay whose dad played tfor the Hogss, ZProbably wanted to go somewhere where he could cach the ball – Thanks Houston Dale)
Tulsa's QB has a kack for putting the ball right where only His receiver can get it, which is responsible for some of those marvelous catchs.
Tulsa doesn't hesitate to throw long – in fact it's one of the reasons they have such a high scoring average – big passing plays.
Arkansas' defensive backs don't inspire much confidence., In their tests against aerial minded teams they have been burned bad. Kentucky showed what can be done when things get serious in the air.
Tulsa runs a no huddk offenseive. this could cause problems for a young inexperienced
Sorry somehow hit the submit buton too early. Here are the rest of my comments
Here are some cold hard realities which doesn'tt include a Gus Malzahn revenge factor (which I don’t think exists) .
Tulsa’s receivers are tremendous, Anyone watching the UCF game should have marveled at their hands and their routes (Several of Tulsa’s receivers are from Arkansas – including Clay whose dad played tfor the Hogss, Probably wanted to go somewhere where he could cach the ball – Thanks Houston Dale.
Tulsa’s QB has a knack for putting the ball right where only his receivers can get it, which is responsible for some of those marvelous catchs.
Tulsa doesn’t hesitate to throw long – in fact, it’s one of the reasons they have such a high scoring average – big passing plays.
Arkansas’ defensive backs don’t inspire much confidence. In their tests against aerial minded teams they have been burned bad. Kentucky showed what can be done when an opponent gets serious in the air.
Tulsa runs a no huddle offense. Tthis could cause problems for a young inexperienced defense when decisions have to be made on the field.
The Malzahn effect: Malzahn knows the Hogs personell. He will try to take advantage of their weaknesses. Arkansas probably doesn't know Tulsa's players except from game films.
For those who think that Tulsa's defense may not be able to stop an SEC team,
Head Coach Graham is a defensive specialist. It may not seem so, but he's working on the premise that when you play more athletically talented teams, rely on your offense to score more than your opponencts. Remember, Malzahn's philosopy is to get the ball in the hands of your best athletes and playmakers – a concept that seems to have taken hold in the Big 12.
Tulsa plays every down as though they're behind. No letup. It might disrupt offensive flow. Not like those dinosaurs at Auburn and Mississippi who think they can wait it out.
Anyway, given all that, I hope the Hogs win, but by how much, who knows? They may score 40 points and still not win.
My conservative, pragmatic judgement, like some others here, is
Tulsa 48
Arkansas 28
All good points JimDog. You are a bit of a homer yourself. I will admit that I am not going to pick against this group of Razorbacks. They have too much against them already without me jumping on board.
But, for a team that has not won at Arkansas in 30 years and has never beaten a team from a BCS conference, you are awfully confident. Only 2 of the 8 teams you have beaten even have a winning record and the two that do do not play in a BCS conference. Arkansas has had trouble in the redzone but, it has been 6 weeks since we played a defense from a lesser conference. Our secondary is week but half of your yards are coming from the run. If we can stop that, Gus may have more trouble as a one dimensional team. And, our line and running backs may be able to play keep away and leave Gus sitting, watching the clock.
It could be a great game. It could be the blowout you are hoping for. Or, like Kentucky and Vandy from the SEC, it could be Tulsa returning to form against the big boys. It would be very unusual for a team like Tulsa to make the bigtime its first try. Boise took 10 years. I doubt that this is your year, that's all. If it is, Gus is about to become a really hot item in the coaching ranks.
But, that's why they play the games.
This is definitely an interesting matchup. I don't see any way this Hog Defense can completely shut down the high-powered Tulsa attack, but to think Tulsa will score more than Bama or Florida seems overboard. On the other hand, the Hogs seem stuck between 20 and 28 regardless of the quality of the defense. So what happens here? Unfortunately, I don't think the Hogs have the offense to win a shootout (yet), and Tulsa needs this win a lot more.
Hurricane 38
Razorbacks 27
Hogs will need to score in the 40s to win this game. I'd sure love to be wrong about this, but with the way our offense has performed in the red zone, I just don't see that happening.
Tulsa 42
Hogs 34
Another Saturday in the Ville……
Weee little piggies-38
"THE" offense-10
38-21 Hogs. Sorry gus. You can't bring boys to do a man's job.
Hogs run on Tulsa and double their score.
Hogs 34 – Tulsa 17
Hogs finally top that 28 pt barrier.
Hogs 38
Tulsa 31
Ok I've only been close 1 time in since last year.
Hogs 26
Tulsa 24
Blindhog: I don't know where you get off implying that I'm a Tulsa homer. If you look at today's Democrat-Gazette, you will find that they have the same interpretation of the game that I do. Aside from one of my kid's church friends who went to Tulsa, I have no link with the Hurricanes. My major loyalty is with the University of Arkansas because of 30 years association with the school and my kids and 2 son-in laws attendiing Arkansas or a satellite campus:. My son and one son-in-law are contributors to the Razor back foundation. My next loyalties are with LSU where I graduated from, and also UTEP, and MIchigan State, two schools thtat I also attended. At last year's LSU game I wore an Arkansas sweatshirt and an LSU cap, with 2 different flags on my SUV. Confused people no end down there in Baton rouge. My kids even gave me a license plate with Hogs on one side and Tigers on the other, saying, "A House Divided". In any case your loyalty is quite admirable and it gave me an idea to suggest to the webmaster of this site. They ought to give a T shirt to the worst prediction, saying "Best damn fan In Arkansas" . Arkansas has some intangibles: Home field, desperate to win a game, and that Tulsa might come in too tight. It would be a nice win, if the Hogs can pull it off. . (Not the most important game but one of the most interesting will be the Auburn-Mississippi battle – another 3-2 outcome?)
New coach of Hogs 31
Former coach of Hogs 27
Come on Arkansas show that you still have some life in you. In the old days, you could rubber stamp this as a certain W (Dub-Ya). Quit stinking up the field and play some good sound football.
Ark 15
Tulsa 22
I don't care any more. Better days are ahead.
Ark 27
Tulsa 55
News flash … Hurricane hits Northwest Arkansas! Wow, can that happen so far inland.
Ark 26
Tulsa 41
This little piggy had none. This is the year that everyone is talking about eliminating pork.
Hog win in low-scoring game 23-20
FYI…moved comments over to game post. Sorry it was late getting posted…traffic after the game was awful.