Arkansas Football: Schedule Analysis As the Bobby Petrino Era Begins

Unpredictable. That sums up the 2007 season for the Razorbacks. Don't expect the 2008 campaign to be any different.

Everyone is ready to see Bobby Petrino's football genius in cardinal and white garb on an autumn afternoon. This will be an exciting year for Razorback fans and potentially a giant year for the direction of the program.

The win total this year might not resemble Nutt's first year, but at the end of the season fans will have a more definite idea of what is happening on the Hill.

Schedule analysis would be a little easier after fall camp, but this is football and we don't have time to wait for such trivial things as depth charts and freshmen progressions.

Western Illinois: In previous years, my general reaction to this game would be excitement for football but an overall yawn. Not this year. As interesting as it will be to see the new offense in action against an opposing defense, albeit not one with a pulse, it will be just as interesting to see the changes on defense and special teams. Everyone plays in this game, as Petrino gets a feel for who he can rely on. Hogs cruise.

ULM: Fans won't take this game seriously, but with last year's upset over 'Bama and Texas looming, you can expect Petrino and company to have a focused squad in his Little Rock debut. The playbook will open up a bit in this one. The scoreboard will indicate an easy Arkansas win, but this should be a hard-fought game from the Warhawks.

@ Texas: This is Petrino's chance to make an impression on the rest of the SEC on national television. As much as I like to envision Matt Jones and Cedric Cobbs running laps around the Texas defense in the last trip to Austin, don't expect the same results. My sources say Will Muschamp was really wanting the Arkansas job, so expect another fiery and passionate performance from his defense. A loaded Texas team wins by two scores, but optimism abounds.

Alabama: Nick Saban wasted no time in stockpiling talent in Tuscaloosa, and his machine should have some serious legs this year. John Parker Wilson always has a solid game against the Hogs, and unless Sam Olajubutu shows up to decapitate him again, I stand by my preseason pick of SEC Western Division champs. The Crimson Tide win a close one in Petrino's SEC debut.

Florida:

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