Arkansas Razorbacks Football: Five most important games for Hogs in 2015

Nov 15, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers safety Austin Suits (10) hands the ball off to running back Darrel Williams (34) during the second half at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Arkansas Razorbacks defeat the LSU Tigers 17-0. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

4. Arkansas at LSU – Nov. 14

LSU has been brutally assaulted by the NFL Draft over the course of the last few years and has put a record number of players into the NFL on a couple of occasions. Many of them were underclassmen and that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon.

Related: LSU Season Preview and Prediction

The lack of experienced players in certain positions, specifically the defensive tackle positions, may leave this year’s Tiger team vulnerable to a power running attack up the middle. The Tigers will look for Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture to carry the responsibilities of the defensive tackle position leaving Coleman as the only viable option as a back up that’s worthy of talking about.

Last year the Razorbacks handed the Tigers their first shutout in regular season play since 2002 when Nick Saban lost to then Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione 31-0 and ended their 17-game SEC losing streak. This year Arkansas heads to Baton Rouge where in 2013 the Razorbacks found themselves in the lead going into the fourth quarter 27-21 and gave up the big play for a touchdown with a little over a minute left in the game.

I wouldn’t expect a high scoring affair in this matchup with Arkansas holding LSU to just 123-yards of total offense in 2015 but would expect to see some old-school smash-mouth football with both coaches utilizing the passing game to only accentuate what could be dominant run performances by both teams.

What could throw a wrench into the equation for Arkansas’ chance at a win is if LSU goes all “dark horse” and runs the table as well as Arkansas. Then we could very well see two undefeated teams going at it with a lot more at stake than the Golden Boot trophy. That’s a perfect recipe for a nationally televised headliner football game which would most likely mean a night game in Death Valley for the Razorbacks.

For some teams that might be scary considering LSU’s night record is 219-60-4 all-time but for this Arkansas team they wouldn’t want it any other way.

Next: Auburn