Hog Wild in Fort Worth

I don't get too many opportunities to see my Arkansas Razorbacks receive a lot of positive national attention but the recipe was just right this past Saturday: take a so-so slate of games around the country, give prime time billing to the Arkansas/TCU game, throw in a little late game magic, and there you have it. So I feel compelled to at least give a little bit of love to the Hogs up front. It was a great game to watch and it has really changed the perspective of the Razorbacks for a lot of people. That being said, the game has still made the list of things we shouldn't overreact to this week. Without further ado, let's get into it. Here are some things from Week 2 we shouldn't be overreacting to just yet:

• Danny Etling's Performance – I'm looking at you, LSU fans. I know it's been rough having to suffer so many games with Brandon Harris under center and it's nice to see a QB with at least some sort of threat to pass, but pump the brakes. I've seen so many LSU fans talk about finding a great QB and that every other team in the SEC should be on notice now. Is that really how you feel? I get that he may have looked great by comparison to what you're used to but let's look a little bit closer. He was 6-14 for 100 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Let me repeat that. HE WAS 6-14 FOR 100 YARDS, 1 TD, AND 1 INT!!! Not an impressive stat line against an FBS opponent let alone Jacksonville State. Now, I'm not saying the kid won't develop into a serviceable QB, maybe even a good QB. I'm just saying let's take a breath and see how he performs moving forward, or if he will even start moving forward.

• Arkansas Win At TCU – Yes, I am a diehard Razorback fan and this was a big win for the program. There is no doubt about that. However, I've seen some experts putting us, not in their Top 25 or Top 15, but in their Top 10. Yes, I said it. Top 10. As much as it does my heart good to see such praise, I can't deny that it is very premature. As big of a win as it was, it was still just one win. We still have a Murderer's Row schedule to navigate. Can we earn Top 10 praise? Sure. But let's take it one step at a time. Both the Coaches and AP polls have us at #24 and I'd have to say that's about right.

• Florida Throttles Kentucky – A 45-7 conference win is impressive, I'll admit. But, with all due respect to Kentucky fans, their football program hasn't been anything to write home about in several years. Even a John L. Smith-led Razorback squad built a 42-0 halftime lead en route to a 49-7 weather-shortened throttling of the Cats in 2012. Make no mistake, it was a great start to the conference season for the Gators but they have yet to get into the meat of their schedule so let's slow down. We will know a lot more about Florida in about a month and a half.

Obviously, it was basically a ho-hum week for the conference, so I will go ahead and cut this list off right here and get on with the Week 3 predictions:

• Ohio @ #15 Tennessee (-27.5) – Tennessee is coming off a nice win at Bristol before a record crowd of 150,000+. Ohio is coming off of a road win over the Big 12's Kansas Jayhawks. I could see there being a slight hangover here for Tennessee. If that's the case, I don't see it lasting longer than a quarter or so. Backups should be in for the Volunteers by the 4^th quarter if not sooner. Tennessee gives up some points in garbage time so they don't cover.

TENNESSEE 45, OHIO 21

• Vanderbilt @ Georgia Tech (-6.5) – Vanderbilt is a slight dog to Georgia Tech this week. I like the Commodores in this one though. They seem to have found a little bit of offense last week and their defense is still very solid. Georgia Tech struggled early against Mercer but was able to bounce back. No such luck here.

VANDERBILT 20, GEORGIA TECH 17

• #1 Alabama (-10.5) @ #19 Ole Miss – With this one being in Oxford, I'm a little surprised that the line is 10.5 points. That being said, this one really hinges on which teams show up. With Bama, do we see the team that absolutely mauled USC in the season opener or the team that just looked pretty good but very beatable against Western Kentucky last week? With Ole Miss, do we see the 1^st half Rebels or the 2^nd half Rebels? With Nick Saban's demeanor, I fully expect Bama to be back on track. If that's the case, I don't think the Rebels can make it 3 in a row over the tide, even in Oxford. Should be a great game though.

ALABAMA 38, OLE MISS 35

• East Carolina @ South Carolina (-3.5) – South Carolina is favored in this one but I just don't see it. East Carolina is coming off a nice win over ACC's NC State while South Carolina got handled by a Mississippi State team that was reeling. Muschamp really needs this game to keep bowl hopes alive with most of the conference schedule still in front of the Gamecocks but I'm calling the mild upset.

ECU 24, SOUTH CAROLINA 21

• New Mexico State @ Kentucky (-19) – Mark Stoops' seat is hot enough as it is after such a disastrous start but if the Wildcats start the season 0-3 with losses to Southern Miss AND a bad New Mexico State team, you'll be able to melt glass on that guy's seat. Fortunately for Stoops, I just don't see that happening. I think Kentucky finally gets in the win column this season, albeit in ugly fashion. But this won't serve to cool his seat one bit.

KENTUCKY 42, NEW MEXICO STATE 27

• Mississippi State @ #20 LSU (-13) – Do the Tigers have their QB? Is there offense safe now? Will Fournette play this week? At the time of writing this, I'm not sure but I will just assume he is. If that's the case, I think LSU will win and cover. Mississippi State looked much improved last week but, then again, it was against South Carolina and I am not totally sold on them yet. It's in Baton Rouge so I think the Tigers roll.

LSU 27, MISSISSIPPI STATE 10

• #17 Texas A&M @ Auburn (-4) – The new and improved Auburn defense will finally get a real test and we will learn a lot about them. Auburn's offense looked a lot better against Arkansas State last week but how can you gauge that really? This week will tell us a lot. Texas A&M has been a bit of a surprise so far this season and I think that continues here. Texas A&M goes on the road and pulls off what many would consider a mild upset.  

TEXAS A&M 31, AUBURN 24

• North Texas @ #23 Florida (-36.5) – I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. With all due respect to North Texas, this is a bad football team. Point blank. Florida is untested thus far and that will not change this week. Florida covers.

FLORIDA 52, NORTH TEXAS 10

• Texas State @ #24 Arkansas (-31) – This one should also be a no-brainer. I will assume that the Louisiana Tech game in week 1 was Arkansas's "Toledo moment" for the year and they survived it. They looked much better last week in upsetting then-#15 TCU in Fort Worth last week. The Hogs should roll in this one. I'm not sure they will cover though because some backups should finally get some experience.

ARKANSAS 45, TEXAS STATE 17

• #16 Georgia (-6.5) @ Missouri – This one has the potential to be interesting if the same UGA team that struggled against Nicholls shows up in Columbia. Missouri still has a good defense and the offense looks like it could be coming along, albeit against lesser competition. Look for Nick Chubb to get back on track in this one though and the Bulldogs won't have to lean so much on Eason. Georgia goes on the road and covers.

GEORGIA 30, MISSOURI 14

Well, there you have it. We finally get to see a few interesting matchups in the SEC. I'm looking forward to a great Saturday of college football. Do you guys agree with these picks? Sound off.