Arkansas Football: 3 keys to successful season for Razorbacks in 2018
3. Don’t get upset by a small school
Arkansas isn’t going to be favored in many games in 2018. In the few games they are supposed to win Arkansas must not only win but dispel the doubts that they’ve fallen as far as it seemed in 2017.
Last season the Razorbacks came dangerously close to a home loss to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The SEC has been maligned for years for allowing their teams to schedule FCS opponents in November. While the rest of the country is beating up on themselves in tough conference games, most SEC squads have a de-facto second bye week to get ready for rivalry week. There will be no second bye week for Arkansas.
The scare to Coastal must put a sense of urgency into every “cupcake” on Arkansas’ schedule in 2018. They play four games against non-Power 5 opponents:
- Eastern Illinois
- Colorado State
- North Texas
- Tulsa
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Eastern Illinois should be the easiest of those four whereas North Texas could be a sneaky trap game in Week 3. With a trip to Auburn waiting in the wings the Hogs best not sleep on Mean Green quarterback Mason Fine. He leads a high-powered passing attack that could outpace Arkansas should the Hogs stumble early.
Win those four, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and Arkansas is going bowling in 2018. Suddenly not that much of a stretch at all.