news flash: hogs unveil passing game

I guess I'll have to hold off on the Hogs naysaying for a while. I expected them to get pushed to the limit at South Carolina and instead they took care of business and seemed to win the game more handily than the score showed. The best thing is, a dangerous Arkansas passing attack finally emerged from hiding, albeit with the backup QB in the game. But at least they showed they can be two-dimensional on offense when called upon -- perhaps Casey Dick should be the starter. Anyway, I saw this as their second tough test at the season (disregarding the USC debacle) and now they're 2-for-2. I'm not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon yet but at least they're not just riding on one impressive victory anymore.

I doubt the Razorbacks will move up any in the rankings this week though. West Virginia should stay in the top ten after a respectable showing at Louisville and LSU will probably jump the Hogs and replace Tennessee as the third-highest SEC team after that impressive win at Tennessee. Of course, it's a shame the Volunteers didn't win that, as that would have hopefully made them more complacent coming into Fayetteville next week. But as it is, they'll probably be pissed and looking for some redemption. (On the other hand, since they're totally out of the SEC East race now maybe they'll be discouraged, though I highly doubt it.) And there's the other issue of the SEC West standings, in which the Hogs currently hold a one-game cushion though Auburn and LSU are both down there waiting for Arkansas to drop two of the next three. And with Tennessee and LSU both left on the schedule, that's not just a remote possibility. But I think if Arkansas pulls off a win against Tennessee at home next week then the race is over. It would take a loss at Mississippi State to give anyone else an opening. Go Hogs!

Elsewhere it was a great week too. Ball State forgot they were supposed to be schedule fodder for Michigan and played the Wolverines as well as any Big Ten team has all year and a heck of a lot better than those overrated prep boys over there at Notre Dame. Illinois even managed to throw up some garbage points at the end to make their game vs. Ohio State look close, though upon closer inspection they were never in that one. And best of all, Miami and Florida State both lost. Both are now 5-4, have losing conference records, and are in the bottom half of the standings in their respective ACC divisions. Ain't this season great!? One of the few things that could make it better is Arkansas routing the third Florida team in the SEC Championship Game.