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2009 Arkansas NCAA Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on July 30, 2009

Arkansas 73009 A step backward was expected in Bobby Petrino’s first season as head man with all the talent that was lost off the 2006 and 2007 squads. After finishing 5-7 in 2008, do the Razorbacks have what it takes to get back in the bowl picture this season? Find out where I have them finishing in the SEC West Division in this college football predictions preview. Arkansas is listed at +10,000 to win this year’s BCS title.

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Offense – We should see the Razorbacks make a big jump on this side of the football in 2009 and Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett figures to be a big reason why. The 6′7”, 248-pound quarterback has a strong arm and looks to be a future NFL draft pick. He will certainly breathe new life into the Arkansas passing attack and he has a nice stable of receivers to work with. Tight end D.J. Williams figures to be one of the top receiving tight ends in the country this season after leading the hogs with 61 receptions for 723 yards last year. Three more starting wide receivers return. The Razorbacks should also be able to achieve offensive balance with a good looking tailback in Michael Smith. Smith rushed for 1,072 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008. Of course, all of these skill players the program is excited about won’t be able to perform up to their full potential if the line isn’t better than it was a season ago when it allowed 46 sacks (next to last in the country).

Defense – The Razorbacks ranked dead last in the SEC in both total and scoring defense in 2008. But nine starters are back from that unit so hopefully they can give back a few of the lumps they took last season. The coaching staff pushed a defensive front, which returns all four starters, to pack on the muscle during the offseason to make it tougher in the trenches. Defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard, who is the team’s top returning sack man with 6.5 last season, anchors the unit. The linebacker unit should be pretty good, but it must stay healthy as there isn’t really any proven guys ready to step in. Weak side backer Jerry Franklin is the team’s top returning tackler, turning in an 87-tackle season in 2008. The Arkansas secondary was among the worst in the league a season ago and would have been exposed more had teams not been able to run on the Razorbacks as easily. The coaching staff has made a conscious effort to upgrade the level of play there with their last two recruiting classes so we’ll have to see if it starts paying off this season.

Prediction: 4th SEC West – The Razorbacks are on the right track and the offense should certainly be better with Mallett under center. But how much the hogs can improve will largely depend on a defense which ranked last in the league in total yards allowed, points allowed, and rushing yards allowed. Improvement may not show up much in the win column either when you consider that the Hogs tackle a tough schedule with games at Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU. Arkansas is listed at +650 to win the SEC West Division at BetUS.

Beat the college football odds with the help of Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks this season!

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