Week 1 of college football is finally here. The SEC opens their season on Thursday as Arkansas Football hosts the 1-0 Florida A&M Rattlers.
Arkansas should win this game. They’re a much more talented team than Florida A&M. The Hogs play in the SEC while the Rattlers hail from the MEAC. If if couldn’t feel any more onesided that’s because it is. ESPN FPI gives the Hogs a 99.5 percent chance of winning.
The odds being stacked so overwhelming in the Razorbacks’ favor makes me nervous. They’ll probably go in and mop the floor with the Rattlers like they’re supposed to, but I’d almost feel better about their chances if they were four touchdown favorites instead of eight.
Arkansas has been on the cusp of taking the next step for a few years now. For some reason they can’t get over the hump and break the 9-win barrier. Taking care of Florida A&M is the first step to achieving that goal. If they struggle to take care of the Rattlers their chances of holding serve in the gauntlet of the SEC West won’t be looking that great.
Stay tuned here for live highlights and updates throughout the game. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@SaturdayBlitz) for more nuggets and reactions.
Three Stars
- Chase Hayden became the first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in his first career game since Alex Collins in 2013.
- Devwah Whaley was effective running the ball out of the gate and scored the first touchdown of the season for the Hogs. He finished with 60 yards and one score.
- The defensive line. The Razorbacks had a lot of turnover in the front seven this season but they won the battle in the trenches tonight, registering three sacks and allowing just 2.6 yards per carry.
Highlights
BOOM, Devwah for SIX. pic.twitter.com/YhasP6pV0Z
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 1, 2017
At the end of the first quarter:
— SEC Country (@SEC_Country_) September 1, 2017
Florida A&M - 0
Arkansas - 7#SEC #WPS
Arkansas takes over at the 50 against a MEAC team and fails to score. Yep.
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 1, 2017
21-0 #Razorbacks https://t.co/56Vabw4nzN
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) September 1, 2017
Half Time
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 1, 2017
Arkansas leads FAMU 21-0
Allen 9/13, 74 yd, 1 TD, 1 INT
Whaley 12 carries, 60 yd, 1 TD
Touchdown Razorbacks. Scoop and score puts Arkansas up 28-0 over FAMU.
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/903437192764284930
FAMU turns it over on downs as a first down reception is dropped by a wide open wide receiver.
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 1, 2017
Looks like this is the year Bielema finally beats an A&M team. pic.twitter.com/1lnixyAxXf
— Rush Roberts (@DrNorrisCamacho) September 1, 2017
The shutout is no more. Arkansas can't keep track of the FAMU receivers in the endzone.
— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) September 1, 2017
Hogs lead 42-7.
.@ColeKelley10 hits @OhMyGrady85 for the 7 yard touchdown! Hogs lead 49-7 #WPS pic.twitter.com/wjx02rxmhR
— Pig Trail Nation (@PigTrailNation) September 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/RazorbackFB/status/903458186161729536
Next: Ranking the top 50 players in college football in 2017
What’s next?
Arkansas has another non-conference matchup in Week 2. They host the TCU Horned Frogs. The Razorbacks edged TCU in a double-overtime thriller in Fort Worth last season. Florida A&M has next weekend off after playing back to back games on ESPN to start the season. Following the bye they’ll take on Tennessee State at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.