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Predicting Arkansas' Season, Game By Game

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Bret Bielema finally won SEC games and led his team to a resounding Texas Bowl victory in 2014, but as a result, expectations are much higher for the 2015 version of the Razorbacks.

Here are some #uncommon picks to tickle your fancy. I hit the final record on the head last season, but had a loss to Texas Tech, a win over A&M, a win over Mississippi State and a loss to LSU.

UTEP September 5

The Miners went 7-5 a year ago, but didn't beat anyone of note and will have a tough time getting anything going in Fayetteville.

To answer your question, no, Mike Price is no longer the coach of UTEP. I assume he's also no longer frequenting strip clubs in Pensacola.

Hogs win, 51-10.

Toledo September 12

War Memorial Stadium's one game this season comes against a traditionally tough #MACtion opponent, whose one game against a SEC opponent last season (Missouri) resulted in a 25-point loss.

The Little Rock crowd should be boisterous for what will likely be a scorcher in the capital city. This one won't be as difficult as Samford was two years ago.

Hogs win, 41-14.

Texas Tech September 19

Arkansas got extremely lucky last year that Kliff Kingsbury hadn't figured out that Patrick Mahomes was better than Davis Webb when the Hogs invaded Lubbock.

Mahomes threw for nearly 600 yards on Baylor's defense as a true freshman, and he figures to put up big numbers when he knows he's the guy this season.

Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins GASHED the Red Raiders a year ago, and look for more of the same in this year's matchup.

The question will be can Robb Smith's defense come up with enough stops?

Hogs win, 42-31.

Texas A&M September 26

The Hogs blew a wonderful opportunity to win last year's meeting, and there's no need to rehash everything that went down that caused it.

A&M will have already faced Arizona State when it comes into this game, although the Hogs will have just faced TTU and Kingsbury runs an offense very similar to Sumlin's.

The Aggies will have great talent on the field, but they underachieved last year and the Arkansas defense that faced them was not the same Arkansas defense that dominated LSU and Ole Miss and contained Mizzou for 2.5 quarters before completely decimating Texas in the bowl game.

So far, since the Southwest Classic started in 2009, the Aggies have won three, and the Hogs three. Arkansas retakes the advantage, 27-21.

At Tennessee October 3

Arkansas hasn't played at Neyland Stadium since the 2007 team suffered their worst loss of the regular season there, 34-13.

That Vols team won the SEC East and had Arian Foster and Jerod Mayo, mind you.

Anyway, Bret Bielema and Butch Jones came into the SEC together from up north and have built their programs very similarly. Both went to bowl games in year two and whoever wins this game has a leg up in their division.

Hogs win, 31-20.

At Alabama October 10

Bryant-Denny Stadium hasn't been the site of a Hog victory since 2003, and there's no reason to think that this is the year, even with Alabama having gone not one but two years since winning a national championship.

Don't think for a second that Nick Saban won't remember only winning by a single point in Fayetteville last year, and he'll have his Tide ready to go. They did schedule the Hogs for Homecoming, and the players will be motivated by that, but it won't be enough.

Hogs lose, 38-19.

Auburn October 24

The Hogs get an open date to rest up and prepare for the furious offensive onslaught of Gus Malzahn.

Originally, I had this as a victory until Malzahn hired Will Muschamp as his defensive coordinator in the offseason. It's now not only going to be hard to keep up offensively, but going to be difficult to score points.

Hogs lose, 31-17.

UT-Martin October 31

Arkansas names the score in what will likely be the Homecoming game at Razorback Stadium. Think Tretola will get to throw another touchdown?

Hogs win, 63-13.

At Ole Miss November 7

The Hogs embarrassed a top ten Ole Miss team a year ago in Fayetteville, and Hugh Freeze will undoubtedly remind his Rebels of that when they come to town.

Ole Miss is unsettled at quarterback, and Arkansas should be able to control whoever Freeze throws out there.

Hogs win, 28-21.

At LSU November 14

The Battle for the Golden Boot was a special one last year, as Arkansas shut the Tigers out and earned Bielema his first SEC win as the Head Hog.

Leonard Fournette did next to nothing in last year's game, and I don't expect that to be the case this time around in Death Valley.

Hogs lose, 31-24.

Mississippi State November 21

Arkansas let one slip away in Starkville last year, and should have revenge on their minds as Dan Mullen's Bulldogs visit Fayetteville.

The Hogs haven't played MSU in Fayetteville since 2003, and it should result in a victory.

Hogs win, 34-20.

Missouri November 27

I said in this space last year that I didn't see there being any way that Missouri would repeat as SEC East champions, and what did the team north of the Battle Line do? Repeat as SEC East champions.

SURELY they don't three-peat as SEC East champions. Arkansas may have a say in that.

Hogs win, 24-17.

Final record: 9-3. The Razorbacks probably vault into the top 25 if they win the A&M game and shouldn't drop out of the national polls again the remainder of the season. A New Year's Six game awaits them, and Bielema wins it to earn a 10-win season and the chance for a significant run at the College Football Playoff in 2016.


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