Arkansas Hopes for Another Upset of USC

It's an out of conference game, but to Arkansas Razorback fans, it means a whole lot more than that. The USC Trojans come to Fayetteville on Saturday for what should be a fantastic college football atmosphere all day long. It's the first game of the year and the first meeting between the schools since last year's 70-17 debacle at the Coliseum. That utter embarrassment needs to be avenged for everyone associated with the Arkansas football program and yet the only way to fully do it is to beat the vaunted Trojans in front of 80,000 rabid fans at Razorback Stadium. Is it likely? No. Possible? You better believe it.

As is often the case, the homefield advantage will be huge in this one. I usually give the home team a seven to ten point edge; for this game it could be even greater. It's the end of an offseason filled with hype and hope and anticipation for the resurrection of a once mighty Razorback program. The fans will undoubtedly play a key role in this game.

Another big storyline to follow revolves around star tailback Darren McFadden and his broken left big toe. D-Mac is one of the elite running backs in the country for sure, but he was supposed to miss at least the first two weeks of the season while recovering from a fit of foot rage at a Little Rock nightclub. If he plays---and I think he will---even in a limited role, it will be a major boost emotionally for his teammates.

Then there's the quarterback situation. A lot of folks in Arkansas wanted Mitch Mustain to play right out of the gates, but the coaching staff realized that wasn't the smartest of moves. Instead, the beleaguered Robert Johnson gets a chance to rectify his poor play of a year ago. If Johnson can use his athleticism to make some plays and get key first downs, the Razorbacks very much have a chance to be in this game.

The defense was significantly improved even by the end of last year and there's no reason to think it won't pick up where it left off with so many returning starters. The big thing Arkansas needs from its defense is the shutting down of the big play. Don't let receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith beat you deep. Obviously USC is without Leinart and Bush and White this time around, but you still can't take the talented newcomer Trojans lightly. Seventy points won't happen again (it better not for the coaches' sakes), but that doesn't mean giving up forty would be a whole lot better. Be physical, bring the energy and make the Trojans slug it out with you.

In the end, I see it being a close game in the fourth quarter. The fans, the atmosphere, the vengeance factor---it's all on Arkansas' side. Still, USC is USC, plain and simple. A win over the Trojans would be historic, regardless of the time of year for the victory. Let's not forget, 32 years ago Arkansas avenged a road loss from the previous season by beating USC at home. Sometimes history has a funny way of repeating itself.

Prediction:

Arkansas 31 - USC 28


-JAB