ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS O:10 D:9

It’s been tough to be a part of Hog Nation the last few years as the bowl drought has now increased to two. That simply won’t be the case this year as HC Houston Nutt has his most experienced team yet, and they’re loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Offensively, 10 starters return from the unit that averaged 25 PPG, and they get the opportunity to learn a new passing attack style offense that should allow them to easily surpass 05’s numbers as the season evolves. Easier said than done, but it helps that they boast one of the best RB duo’s in the country with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, and one of the best O-Line’s in the SEC paving their way. DC Reggie Herring had a huge impact on the defense in ’05 as they improved they’re overall yardage allowed by 55, and took a full yard off their DEF Yards-Per-Carry average (4.6-3.6). They also own one of the better special team units that boasts solid return and kicking games.

September 2nd is a huge day for the Razorbacks as the USC Trojans pay Fayetteville a visit, and there’s no doubt this veteran group will want to erase the memories of the 70-17 beat down they suffered a year ago. Their schedule is very manageable with only two tough road trips to Auburn and South Carolina, and this squad is a clear-cut contender for the SEC crown in ’06.