Battle Line: A New Rivalry

With Missouri looking to clinch a spot in a second straight SEC championship game, Arkansas will look to start a new rivalry and spoil the Tigers’ plans. The #17 Tigers are 6-1 in SEC play and are tied with Georgia in the SEC east at 9-2. The Razorbacks have been close to victories in many of their SEC match ups this year, only to get lose in the final moments of the game. But that really doesn’t matter for this Arkansas team, they have dominated in their last two outings. The Hogs’ defense forced six turnovers against the Rebels last Saturday and the offense took advantage of those opportunities. Other than the underrated Battle for the Golden Boot, the Razorbacks don’t have a really strong rivalry. By knocking Mizzou out of the SEC championship game, the Hogs could very well find themselves in an intense, new Battle Line Rivalry.

This is going to be a fun game to watch, so make sure to keep up with it tomorrow afternoon and check in here for the post game report.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving from Who Dat-Razorbacks’ writer and editor, Gideon Lytle.

Arkansas-Missouri Preview

The Arkansas Razorbacks are making a trip north to take on the Missouri Tigers this Friday. The Tigers are 9-2 currently and are tied for the lead of the SEC east with Georgia. Missouri held off, SEC east foe, Tennessee last week 29-21 and hope to repeat that against an Arkansas team that has shut out two straight opponents. While Arkansas is sitting at 6-5, they are playing as if they are undefeated. With victories over #18 LSU and #8 Ole Miss, it seems that the Hogs are ready for any team. The Razorbacks powerful and time consuming offense is very effective and the Tigers will have to find a way to stop it or Arkansas may shut out a third straight team. Missouri has an offense that lives off of big plays, and if Arkansas’ defense can repeat their actions from the Ole Miss game, the Tigers won’t have a chance. The Razorbacks forced 6 turnovers in last weeks matchup, 3 picks and 3 fumble recoveries. One of the interceptions was returned from end zone to end zone for six points and a commanding 26-0 lead over the Rebels.
The basis for success the Razorback defense will need is to stop third down conversions. If the Tigers are able to convert many of those, it will allow them to develop a rhythm and attack the defense. The Hogs’ offense will just need to do what they always do, cram the run, wear down the clock, and tire the defense. If the run game is successful, Brandon Allen will have opportunities with the play action to throw some deep balls and make big plays.

My prediction:
Ark: 24
Mizzou: 13

Momentum Shifts for Razorbacks

     The 6-5 Razorbacks have had a terribly diffcult scedule this year, but most SEC scedules are. The Hogs ended a 17 game losing streak in the conference a little over a week ago, and it doesn’t seem that they are looking back. After shutting out #18 LSU in the Battle for the Golden Boot, 17-0, the Arkansas played host to #8 Ole Miss and sent them home with a goose-egg.

The Razorbacks forced Ole Miss to a three and out, and never slowed down. The Rebels went into half time with no points and Arkansas went in with 17. In the second half, Ole Miss got dangerously close to scoring, but the Hogs found two interceptions in the endzone, one of which was returned for six points.  Coach Bielema had been pressing for the domination of time of possession, and that is what the ‘Backs did, by a margin of 34:01 to 25:59. The Razorbacks took down the Ole Miss Rebels 30-0 for a second straight SEC shut out. It was the first time in NCAA history that an unranked team shut out two ranked teams in a row.

With six wins, the Razobacks are now bowl eligble, but they are focuesed on next weeks match up against the Mizzou Tigers. Coach Bielema will look to carry the momentum as they travel to Missouri and get his tenth win since coaching the Razorbacks.