2008 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Preview

2008 Arkansas Razorbacks season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Arkansas Razorbacks football preview as well as the 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule. We also offer a free odds comparison service of lines and totals on the NCAA football odds page.

Coach: Bobby Petrino (1st year at Arkansas)
Team Name: Razorbacks
2007 Overall Record: 8-5
Returning Starters: 11

The Arkansas Razorbacks (8-5 overall, 4-4 SEC) went to the Cotton Bowl after upsetting LSU in the third overtime 50-48 and finishing tied for third in the SEC West. This season the Hogs will have a new coach—Bobby Petrino. Petrino, who coached the Louisville Cardinals for four years going 41-9, brings a reputation for creating dominant passing attacks, a slashing running game and a split receiver look.

Senior QB Casey Dick (262 ATT, 150 REC, 1,695 YDS, 18 TDs, 10 INT) seems to be adapting to Petrino’s system nicely. Dick is smart, able to withstand pressure and a fine leader. He’ll have protection from a sound line led by the talented, senior center Jonathan Luigs. Two Hog All-American running backs, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, are gone, leaving the ground game severely depleted. Junior RBs Michael Smith and Brandon Barnett are both fast but may be too small to hold up physically over the course of the season. The receiving corps is lacking.

On defense, the line looks like the best unit. There’s a good mix of veterans and talented second-year players who are moving up. Dependable senior Elston Forte anchors a group of inexperienced linebackers. The secondary may be talented but they are untested. Expect new defensive coordinator Willy Robinson to play a lot of zone coverage, trying to protect against the big play as much as possible.

The team should record at least six loses this season, including a whipping by Texas on September 13. If the Razorbacks keep the Texas contest close or improbably win it, then this club has the chance to surprise other teams too. Swing games include visits to Kentucky on October 18 and to MSU on November 22. Home games versus Ole Miss on October 25 and Tulsa on November 1 are tough to predict.

The Razorbacks have a tough conference schedule and play the Texas Longhorns early in the season on the road. Additionally, there is not a lot of depth on defense, especially at linebacker. But if Petrino can get his players to perform at peak level in his new system, these Hogs could put points on the board and win some games. To do so, they’ll have to have an impeccable work ethic.

Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Western Illinois	Home
Sep 6	ULM	Home
Sep 13	Texas	Away
Sep 20	Alabama	Home
Oct 4	Florida	Home
Oct 11	Auburn	Away
Oct 18	Kentucky	Away
Oct 25	Mississippi	Home
Nov 1	Tulsa	Home
Nov 8	South Carolina	Away
Nov 22	Mississippi State	Away
Nov 28	LSU	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football program, view the Razorbacks official website or scroll down below to read up on the rest of the SEC competition.