Arkansas Razorbacks 2022 College Football Preview
August 12, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 9-4
ATS – 8-4-1
WOO PIG SOOIE, indeed!
The Razorbacks exceeded almost everybody’s expectations last year and won more games than the previous three seasons combined. They posted wins over Texas A&M, Texas, and Mississippi St, among others, and also gave ROLL TIDE a run for their money (L 42-35). The season ended on a fine note when they handled Penn St with ease in the Outback Bowl, a MEGALOCKS 888 STAR BUNKER BUSTER BOMB BOWL LOCK winner.
Can they repeat that success in 2022?
Arkansas Razorbacks 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Hogs put up 30 PPG and were very balanced on offense LY (228 YPG rush, 214 pass) and QB KJ Jefferson emerged into a legit star (67%, 21-4 TD to INT; 664 rush, 6 TD). The WR/TE group takes a yuuuge hit this year as they only return one man who had more than 150 receiving yards in 2021. They’ll especially miss the great Treylon Burks who was the Hogs’ most devastating weapon LY (66, 1104, 16.7, 11 TD), and a first round NFL DC. They picked up a pair of decent WR transfers thru the portal but it remains to be seen if anyone can come close to matching Burks’ production and ability to make big plays on the regular. They’ve got a deep RB group that’ll keep rotating and grinding opposing defenses to shreds, and don’t forget that Jefferson led the team in rushing LY. Arkansas still has one of the best OLs in the SEC and that means they’ll be able to do what they do best.
DEFENSE
Arkansas showed great improvement LY as they allowed just 23 PPG (35 in 2021) and that was the first time they allowed fewer than 30 PPG since 2015. There may be trouble on the horizon as they lose four of their top-five tacklers including tackling-machine LB Grant Morgan (100+ L2Y). They’ll also be without their top-two sack producers in Tre Williams (6) and Hayden Henry (4). The front seven looks a bit sketchy in terms of experience but they do return AA LB Bumper Pool and add a LB transfer from ROLL TIDE in Drew Sanders. The strength of the defense is in the secondary and it’ll be great if star safety Jalen Catalon can stay healthy for an entire season. We expect them to be less productive on defense as the front seven could get worked over a bit and they need to find a pass rusher or three (25 sacks LY, 2nd worst SEC).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Things look to be in good order. The kicking game is solid with the return of punter Reid Bauer (38.6 net LY) and ace PK Cam Little (20-24 FG, 46-46 XP). They’ll need to find a replacement for PR Nathan Parodi who returned a punt to the CRIBBY WHIZZY JIZZY in 2021.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Welcome to NASTYVILLE, yo. They miss Georgia and Florida from the East but have a few tough non-conference games (Cincinnati, at BYU) in addition to playing in the, you know, SEC West. The Hogs have to deal with a brutal four-game stretch before their bye week (Texas A&M, ROLL TIDE, at Miss St, at BYU).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – November 5 – Liberty
This game falls in the middle of a pair of SEC West tilts (at Auburn, LSU) and you know that Hugh Freeze can COACH EM UP.
Season Win Total
per BetOnline Aug 12
Over 7.5 +135
Under 7.5 -165
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
They’ll do well to get to eight wins with that schedule. Then again, look what they did in 2021.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Arkansas won nine games LY for the first time since 2011 (!) when they went 11-2 under your pal Bobby Petrino who ironically had 11 mistresses that same season **.
** fact check likely true
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It’s gonna be tough to duplicate what they did last season. They won’t be able to sneak up on anyone, lost their most dangerous offensive weapon, and need to reload significantly on defense. They’ve still got a star QB and a great work ethic, but we project six or seven wins for WOO PIG in 2022.
Want more Arkansas football ?
WEBSITE
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/
FORUM
http://www.hogville.net/yabbse/index.php?board=1.0
http://arkansas.247sports.com/Board/Hawg-Heaven-59414
https://arkansas.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-hill.8/
http://www.secrant.com/rant/arkansas-sports/
https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/Board/Hawg-Lounge-102335/
https://arkansas.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-razors-edge.6/
NEWS
http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/razorbacks/football/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/8/arkansas-razorbacks