Hogger Picks for 2010

Is the Razorback hype for real? Well, we really won’t know until Week 3 when the Hogs play Georgia. However, there will be things to look for as the season begins today when Arkansas takes on Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference.

I like that both Head Coach Bobby Petrino and Defensive Coordinator Willy Robinson are taking the Tennessee Tech game seriously. Last week following practice Robinson was downright irate at a reporter who called Tennessee Tech a “tune-up game.”

Here’s what I’m looking for that I feel will be a good barometer of where the season is heading:

1. Arkansas’ defense literally smothers Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe in the first two games. 2. Arkansas’ offense is sharp and big time against the two teams and is led by the running game, not the passing game.

If those two aspects are present in Arkansas’ first two games against – admittedly – lesser opponents, we could see some special things from the Hogs in 2010.

With that said, here are my picks for the 2010 season:

Sept. 4 – Tennessee Tech at Arkansas: Hogs control and roll in a 46-10 opening win.

Sept. 11 – Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas: Hogs roll again, win 52-7.

Sept. 18 – Arkansas at Georgia: Hogs avenge last year’s loss in Fayetteville, win 30-24.

Sept. 25 – Alabama at Arkansas: Hogs actually show up to play ‘Bama, win 28-21.

Oct. 9 – Texas A&M at Arkansas: Hogs in a shootout, win 38-28.

Oct. 16 – Arkansas at Auburn: Hogs avoid upset, win another shootout: 38-30.

Oct. 23 – ‘Ole Miss at Arkansas: Hogs give Nutt what’s coming to him, win 38-20.

Oct. 30 – Vandy at Arkansas: Hogs make Homecoming sweet, win 42-14.

Nov. 6 – Arkansas at South Carolina: Hogs stumble to improved Gamecocks, lose 28-24.

Nov. 13 – UTEP at Arkansas: Hogs unmerciful after first loss, win 65-14.

Nov. 20 – Arkansas at Mississippi State: Arkansas stumbles, loses in OT, 33-30.

Nov. 27 – LSU at Arkansas: Arkansas brings the wood, wins 38-21.

Arkansas ends regular season 10-2.

Arkansas Razorback schedule from www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com:

Sat, Sep 04 Tennessee Tech Fayetteville, Ark. 6 pm (W) 44-3 Sat, Sep 11 Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock, Ark. 6 pm (W) 31-7 Sat, Sep 18 Georgia * at Athens, Ga. Noon (W) 31-24 Sat, Sep 25 Alabama * Fayetteville, Ark. 2:30 pm Sat, Oct 09 Texas A&M at Arlington, Texas TBA Sat, Oct 16 Auburn * at Auburn, Ala. TBA Sat, Oct 23 Ole Miss * Fayetteville, Ark. TBA Sat, Oct 30 Vanderbilt – Homecoming * Fayetteville, Ark. TBA Sat, Nov 06 South Carolina * at Columbia, SC TBA Sat, Nov 13 UTEP Fayetteville, Ark. TBA Sat, Nov 20 Mississippi State * at Starkville, MS TBA Sat, Nov 27 LSU * Little Rock, Ark. TBA

* Conference Games