Razorbacks Sitting About Where We Figured They Would

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said in the post-mortem after a 34-31 loss to LSU he thinks they will run the table over the final eight games, he didn't have much choice. It's really about the only thing a coach can say at that point.

The 38-31 loss to BYU is going to haunt the Razorbacks. That was my initial thought right after the game ended. It was the same feeling I had when they burned a couple of timeouts early in the second half last night against the Tigers. Those things just have this little knack of turning out to be major problems later. Timeouts are valuable, just like the final outcomes on games.

Looking at the rest of the schedule and projecting, I can see wins over Mississippi State as likely. If the Hogs find themselves sitting at 2-5 going into that game there are questions with even more cloudy answers as solving why so many penalties. Right now, projecting anything else is based on hope more than facts and not looking at the overall picture.

After that game finally getting back at home the only game I'll go ahead and mark as a definite win is against Florida International in November. Too much can change between now and those games. Those teams could get better or worse, but Florida is suddenly real and Missouri is looking better than anyone thought. The Hogs seem to have this stumbling block with them, too.

Maybe it will get sorted out in time for (hopefully) the next-to-last trip to Arlington to waste a trip to play Texas A&M. It was a nice little novelty in 2008, but now seems more of a bother.

The bigger concern right now is the remaining eight in total with a 2-2 record and needing to find four more wins. Saying that's in the bank is just hoping. You don't know what's going to happen with other teams' injuries, officials' calls or even mental attitudes.

The Hogs may be getting to an early point of having to play a little desperate, which hasn't always been a bad thing in Pittman's brief time here. It's worked out well before. Maybe it can again. Otherwise, nobody is going to have a merry holiday season.

HOGS FEED:

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WHY CAN'T THE HOGS USE THEIR FASTEST RECEIVER IN THE PASS GAME?

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