November 26, 2009

Things to look for in the LSU-Arkansas game:

1) LSU will honor 24 seniors before the game, and many of them played key roles on LSU's 2007 National Championship team.  The Tigers will also wear special Nike uniforms for the game, which are mostly white, with "old gold" helmets that have the same design as the regular one.

2) The Tigers must shake off the dissapointment of last week and concentrate on an Arkansas team that has won four straight.  Quarterback Ryan Mallett leads the league in total offense.  He is a huge (6-7, 240-lbs.) and accurate.  LSU hasn't gotten much of a pass rush going this year, and if they let Mallett, who is not mobile, have time to throw, look out.

3) Arkansas spreads the ball around.  Four receivers, including the tight end, have 26 catches or more.

4) Razorback tailback Broderick Green is filling in for the injured Michael Smith.  Green, a USC transfer, is 6-2, 248-lbs. and quite the power back.  Contrary to the image Bobby Petrino and the Hogs portray, the offense is balanced, with 364 passes for the season and 340 runs.

5) The Hog defense has not been good.  They are last in the league in total defense, and last in pass defense.  However, Mississippi State ran for 347 yards against Arkansas in a loss last week.  The Razorback's smallish defense is wearing down, and the pass defense number is largely because the teams that they have blown out had to stop running the football.  In the games that were competitve, teams ran the ball successfully at Arkansas.

6) LSU senior tailback Keiland Williams is out with a broken ankle, the third Tiger tailback to be lost for the year.  Stevan Ridley will assume the role of starter, with Trindon Holliday and Russell Shepard likely to see more time as well.  Seeing Shepard get a bigger amount of playing time would be a welcome sight for most Tiger fans.

7) The winner of this game has the inside track to the Cotton Bowl.  The loser seems headed for the Liberty Bowl.

8) Don't forget, coming in December to 104.5, ESPN radio!