Week 13: Arkansas at LSU

You know it was a strange week at Arkansas when a Razorback quarterback, not one the school’s two all-conference tailbacks, was named the SEC Player of the Week. But that’s what happened. The much-maligned Casey Dick was honored by the league after throwing for 199 yards and tying a school record with four touchdown passes (and no interceptions) in an impressive 45–31 bounce-back win over Mississippi State. With 223 yards passing and 206 yards rushing, it was the first time in over a calendar year that Arkansas has won a game in which it had more yards passing than running.

To hang with LSU, however, Arkansas will need a heroic effort from junior tailback Darren McFadden, who likely will be playing his final regular season game in college. McFadden, who managed only 88 yards on 28 rushes last week, has had mixed results against LSU. Two years ago, he gained 67 yards on 24 carries in a 19–17 loss in Baton Rouge, and last season, he gained 182 yards on 21 attempts in a 31–16 loss. It’s safe to say that McFadden will need to flirt with the 150-yard mark for Arkansas to have an opportunity to beat the top-ranked Tigers.

While McFadden appears to be gone to the NFL following this season, both coaches in this game are rumored to be on the move as well. The 10-year Houston Nutt soap opera could end soon, with Nutt either accepting another job (Baylor, SMU?) or being forced out by the university. And LSU’s Les Miles, a proud Michigan Man, appears to be a strong candidate to replace Lloyd Carr in Ann Arbor.

Miles is refusing to address the Michigan situation, choosing instead to focus on his team’s pursuit of a national title. Seems like a wise choice. With a win over Arkansas (very likely) and a win in the SEC title game the following week (probable), the Bayou Bengals will be in position to capture their second national title in the past five seasons.

LSU hasn’t been the unbeatable juggernaut that we thought we’d see after season-opening routs of Mississippi State and Virginia Tech, but this is still a very good team with very few weaknesses. Miles can’t be thrilled that Ole Miss, winless in SEC action, rolled up a season-high 466 yards against LSU. If there’s one positive to take out of those numbers, almost half (94) of the Rebels’ 201 yards rushing — by far the most against LSU this year — came from a running quarterback, Brent Schaeffer. The Tigers won’t see a mobile quarterback this week or in the SEC title game (Georgia’s Matthew Stafford or Tennessee’s Erik Ainge). If they get to the national title game, it’s possible that West Virginia’s Pat White, Missouri’s Chase Daniel or Kansas’ Todd Reesing will be on the other sideline, but that is another concern for another time.

For this week, there shouldn’t be too many worries. Arkansas has played LSU well the past two seasons, but the Tigers should roll this Friday.

LSU by 18