Only one media member from SEC Media Days picked Arkansas to win the SEC West.

The Razorbacks enter Year 5 under Bret Bielema with a daunting schedule, including traveling to Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa. While Austin Allen is a tremendous quarterback, the team faces a number of question marks.

Let’s take a look at the best and worst-case scenarios for the Razorbacks in 2017.

Keep the faith

1. Snap the streak: Last season, Allen torched the Crimson Tide for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, Arkansas has a chance to finally end its losing streak against Alabama. Razorbacks fans will remember his name for a long time if he can win this season in Tuscaloosa. 

2. Whaley handles the load: Devwah Whaley was a solid backup running back as a true freshman. With Rawleigh William’s sudden retirement in the spring, Whaley has a great opportunity to assume the bulk of the carries. The 216-pound sophomore showed flashes of his potential last season, rushing for over 600 yards.

As a high school senior, Whaley rushed for over 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns. 247Sports rated him the No.3 running back of the 2016 class. True freshmen Maleek Williams and Chase Hayden should help him form a solid backfield.

If Whaley goes down during the season, Arkansas is in trouble. They need him to play the season injury-free, or the Razorbacks will have to rely solely on the young bucks in the backfield.

Allen dealt with some injuries last season, including a bruised knee and chest. He spent much of his time in the pocket under duress behind an inexperienced offensive line. It’s difficult to foresee the offensive line taking a step back after many of the players gained valuable game time.

3. Arkansas beats TCU again: The Razorbacks have a chance to get a big non-conference resume win in the second week of the season. Arkansas fans would love to beat their former Southwest Conference foe two years in a row. Last season’s game in Fort Worth was spectacular, and this year should be another barn-burner.

This time, the Razorbacks will face the Horned Frogs in Razorback Stadium on a Saturday afternoon in September. TCU will be looking for revenge after the traumatizing double-overtime loss they suffered in 2016. A win could bolster the Razorbacks’ confidence the rest of the way.

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4.  Tight end emerges: Arkansas has a slew of talent at the tight end position. That has been a strength of since Bielema arrived (Hunter Henry, A.J. Derby, Jeremy Sprinkle.) Austin Cantrell, C.J. O’Grady, Jeremy Patton and Will Gragg are ready to keep the reputation alive.

These high-profile recruits have the talent but have made mental mistakes in the past. If one or two can stand out, Arkansas should be set at that position.

5. Greenlaw comes back strong: The defense was not the same after linebacker Dre Greenlaw broke his foot against Alabama last year. The Fayetteville high school standout brings sure tackling and ball-hawking ability that new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads desperately needs.  If Greenlaw comes back with a vengeance, Arkansas should have an improved defense under his leadership.

Disaster strikes

1. Allen plagued by injuries: The offensive line doesn’t improve and Allen takes another beating. Without him, Arkansas might not have won a conference game last year. Even Allen’s opponents noticed his will to win.

2. Arkansas blows close ones: Under Bielema, Arkansas has had a number of of close games they were not able to win. LSU in 2013, Alabama in 2014, Mississippi State in 2015 and Missouri in 2016 are some of the most notable collapses.

With all the question marks this team faces, 2017 could be deja vu for Arkansas fans if the Hogs fail to close out games. Razorbacks fans miss the reliable kicking of Zach Hocker during close contests. Since Bielema arrived, Arkansas has not had a reliable kicker to help ease the pressure off the rest of the team.

3. Horned Frogs escape: The Razorbacks need to win against TCU in the second week. If they lose, Arkansas hits a bye lacking confidence, then has to travel to Arlington for a duel with Texas A&M, a game the Razorbacks cannot seem to win.

Arkansas fans expect to win the TCU game in Fayetteville. If they don’t, opposition toward Bielema could heighten quickly with a brutal schedule the rest of the way.

The Razorbacks early bye doesn’t help matters, as they’ll play 10 straight weeks to close the season.

4. Defense not there: While switching to the 3-4 defense might help the Razorbacks long-term, it’s going to be a difficult transformation under Rhoads. Most believe changing defensive schemes takes a least a year to see quality results.

Defensive lineman McTelvin Agim and Greenlaw are stalwarts, but there aren’t a lot of other players on defense who could start elsewhere in the SEC. If this new game plan doesn’t result in getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Arkansas might be worse off than last year with less talent.

5. Tight ends falter: No tight end on the roster stands out. Routes and blocks are missed week after week. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos is forced to hold back some of his playbook with the unreliability of the tight end position.

Different team members start, destroying the chemistry up front with the rest of the offensive line and Allen. This gives opposing defenses the chance to stack the box and double-team Jared Cornelius for the majority of games.