5 questions with an Arkansas insider entering a Georgia football game



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ATHENS – This week’s Georgia-Arkansas game was pretty advanced, a Top 10 showdown between two of college football’s hottest schedules.

Kirby Smart made UGA an annual national championship contender with four consecutive Top 10 rankings.

Sam Pittman – who worked in Georgia for Smart from 2016 to 2018 – returned to a schedule that had lost 19 straight SEC games and 14 games later as the Hogs placed in the Top 10.

The 2nd-seeded Bulldogs (4-0) started as an 18-point favorites over the 8th-seeded Razorbacks (4-0) in the noon game at Sanford Stadium (TV: ESPN) on Saturday, but there is had an additional degree of. uncertainty.

Both teams have quarterback issues coming into play with the health of JT Daniels of Georgia and JT Daniels of Arkansas in question.

DawgNation spoke to Arkansas beat writer Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to learn more about the Razorbacks schedule this week.

1. How would you describe the atmosphere around Fayetteville this week?

I’m going to have to rely on social media because I’m not “out” a lot. Razorback fans are thrilled. The Pittman era is really ahead of the schedule. But they really were the “toughest” team against Texas and A&M. Razorback fans haven’t seen so much to get excited about since 2011.

2. Will Arkansas invest financially to improve facilities and maintain coaching staff following this start of the season?

The facilities are basically up to par, although apparently Sam Pittman wants air conditioning in their indoor installation, which he has been pushing for this week. It is clear that UA will have to increase Sam’s salary at this point and possibly increase the salary in several other places as well. Barry Odom has hit at least $ 1.7 million after interest from LSU and Texas during the offseason, but he’s looking for another raise. I’m sure there will be some head coaching interest in Odom and Kendal Briles if this continues.

3. What’s the worst-case scenario for Arkansas this season in terms of records? Best case?

That’s how you introduce yourself to the SEC every week, isn’t it? Just because the Razorbacks have won two swing games already, they’re no pushover for bowl eligibility. However, barring a string of key player injuries, it looks like the Hogs would stand a chance in most of their remaining games, with the possible exception of Saturday in Athens and on the road in Alabama. I think Arkansas is now expected to win at home against Auburn, UAPB, Mississippi State and Missouri which would take them to 8 wins. At Ole Miss next week and at LSU, it’s tricky. If they won once out of those two, they could participate in all six New Year’s conversations. I’m not counting this veteran squad against anyone yet.

4. What is the Razorbacks formula for an upheaval Saturday in Athens?

Establish the run, get KJ Jefferson in the run, hit a big pass or three and get 7 not 3 in every opportunity that presents itself. They cannot be overwhelmed by the crowd, which they have not heard against them for almost two years. Contain the UGA racing game to some extent, tackle in space, not get creamed in special teams like they did last year in this game. There is a lot to ask of Arkansas for a chance.

5. How do you see this game going?

If I knew, I would bet. I think Arkansas will have a chance to make this a tough, slug-it-out position type game. JT Daniels’ passing accuracy will be a big key. I’m sure Georgia will put the pressure on to try and shake up Jefferson and cram the running game. My main recommendation is to take the underneath and I don’t even know what it is.

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