Gut Feeling about Arkansas, Mizzou Game Could Just Be Unhealthy Post-Thanksgiving Breakfast

Brain, all the stats, say Razorbacks have no chance, but can't shake feeling Hogs somehow pull out win over Tigers Friday afternoon

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 24, 2023 10:17 AM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It's weird to have any feeling about a Razorback football game against Missouri, much less a gut feeling.

Typically the Battle Line Lack of Rivalry sneaks up on everyone as an eye rolling interruption to basketball and deer season. However, sitting down to Thanksgiving leftovers to torture themselves while knowing Arkansas is about to magically lose to an inferior opponent before decorating the family Christmas tree is a Razorback fan tradition.

However, this season is different. In a surprising twist this season, Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz has found a way to push the Tigers' football program well beyond that of Arkansas, making the Hogs a resounding favorite to lose. Considering the game is in Razorback Stadium, so long as Missouri fans don't make it feel like Columbia instead of Fayetteville, odds greatly increase for the Hogs getting blown out.

However, with the rising of the sun this morning came an odd feeling. It's probably just the a side effect of eating sugar free egg custard pie for breakfast, but the gut says the roles switch today and it will be Arkansas that is the inferior team walking away with a shocking win today.

That's really hard to process and has created a lot of conflict because the brain says Missouri puts this thing away no later than the second quarter. That stats say the Fighting Drinkwitzs put up at least 30 points, and Arkansas doesn't. It should be pretty cut and dry.

However, the Tigers have shown all year that they're not as great as their record would suggest. Consider these games:
Missouri 23, Middle Tennessee 19 (Home)
Missouri 34, Memphis 27 (St. Louis)
Missouri 33, Florida 31 (Home)

If the team that went into those games overconfident shows up in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks have a puncher's chance. Sure, history says a team playing for a New Year's Six Bowl opportunity should destroy a team out of bowl contention with nothing to play for and presumably no head coaching job on the line.

Still, there's this nagging feeling Arkansas finally comes away with its first win of the season in Fayetteville against a legitimate football team. It's not often a Razorback football season ends the regular season on a positive, so the brain screams no, but Hog fans can always hope.

If all goes well, maybe afterward, the Razorbacks can ask Courtney Crutchfield if he will reconsider their proposal to join them in holy football matrimony come signing day. That is, if Arkansas can afford the ring.