Published December 21, 2010 - 3:22am
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In case you missed the second half of the college football season, the Arkansas Razorbacks were one of the most impressive teams in the country.
On September 25th, Arkansas lost a tough game to Alabama at home. It was a game where they were up, and had they kept the pedal down, they likely would have won.
On October 16th, Arkansas lost a shoot out to the Cam Newton led Auburn Tigers. In the game, Mallett went down with an injury, but backup quarterback Tyler Wilson kept the Hogs in it. In the end, it was just too much Cam Newton as many teams learned in 2010.
Since that loss against Auburn, the Razorbacks haven’t looked back.
Six straight wins.
255 total points.
Wins over three ranked teams (South Carolina, Mississippi State, LSU).
Ohio State got a tough draw getting matched up with the hot Arkansas Razorbacks who finished 10-2 while playing a brutally difficult SEC regular season schedule (along with their out-of-conference matchup against Texas A&M). The only thing that might help the Buckeyes is the fact that Arkansas has a layoff of well over a month.
Their last game was on November 27th. They play Ohio State on January 4th in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Coach Bobby Petrino’s greatest challenge might just be keeping his team in top shape and playing with the same level of execution in which they finished the season.
I must admit, outside of the BCS Championship game with Auburn and Oregon, this is the premiere game. It features two big time quarterbacks in Ryan Mallett and Terrelle Pryor. It features two of the best teams in the best conferences. While we make fun of the Big Ten and Ohio State for their complete inability to beat the SEC in bowl games, they are a quality opponent and it’ll be an excellent game.
Who did you pick to win this game in the SEC Bowl Pick’em? I picked the Hogs, and I picked a high confidence number on that one.
I think Arky and Whisky are probably the 2 best teams not in the BCS title game. Both teams have been impressive to watch. Mallet might have gone down in the Auburn game, but I find it hard to believe that he could have done a better job than Wilson did as the back-up. Wilson might end up as a better QB than Mallet when all is said and done. Arky will be very, very tough the next couple of years and have a good shot at making it to ATL.
Interestingly enough Ohio States last game was also November 27th so I’d say the layoff has its pros for both teams like healing injured players and rigorous preperation for a tough opponent. Though as you mentioned it is an extended time without a game but then again every team experiences this during the bowl season.