Arkansas Looks For Winning SEC Record

It seems like a sharp contrast to September.  People were selling on the Arkansas Razorbacks faster than Facebook stock.  But with two wins in the past two weeks, giving up just seven points in each game while scoring a total of 73 themselves, suddenly it looks like the Razorbacks may have found their stride.

Sorry, this isn’t just some near-.500 team who is simply benefiting from getting hot.  This is a team who began the season ranked No. 8, with many key players from last season’s squad ready to go.  Tyler Wilson has proved that he can play with the best.  What’s more, he’s done it while climbing a mountain of doubt, and fighting off his critics like mosquitoes at every turn.

Indeed, it appears that the Razorbacks have shown up, and it may not be too late.

Arkansas is an extremely unique situation.  You can’t look at the rest of their schedule and be sure they’re going to lose to anyone, and yes that includes the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers.  Given the opponents that the Mississippi State Bulldogs have played, it may not be a far cry for Vegas to actually have Arkansas favored when they play Mississippi State on November 17.

Players were once skeptical of success in September.  The new Razorback mentality was summed up well by linebacker Terrell Williams following their last game against the Kentucky Wildcats.  “Everybody embraced the game plan that coach [Paul] Haynes put in along with the defensive staff.  We went out there and executed,” Williams said.

Head coach John Smith has expressed his satisfaction with his team, saying, “It’s fun as a coach to see young guys just keep climbing that ladder and getting better and better.”

It is still possible for Arkansas to have an 8-4 overall record, a 6-2 conference record, and play in a great bowl game.  For the eternal optimist, Arkansas is not eliminated from the possibility of making it to the SEC championship game, although they would need a considerable amount of help.

Dan Irwin is an SEC football writer for Rant Sports.  Follow him on Twitter @ danirwin_rant, or on Facebook at “facebook.com/danirwin.sports“.