The 2016 SEC football season is just around the corner and everyone wants to know how good their favorite team will be.
There are plenty of intriguing teams heading into the new season, but Arkansas may be the most intriguing of all.
Can the Razorbacks navigate through the tough SEC West and potentially challenge Alabama and LSU at the top?
Let’s get right to the predictions.
vs. Louisiana Tech (Sept. 3)
The Bulldogs were very good last season, but this isn’t last season. They lost a lot of key players on both sides of the ball and that’ll be their downfall here.
Arkansas wins this game comfortably.
Prediction: Win (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
at TCU (Sept. 10)
Talk about a huge game early in the year. TCU heads into the season as a Top 15 team and won’t be overlooking the Hogs.
I don’t have any doubt that the game is close, but with the Horned Frogs at home, they get the edge.
Prediction: Loss (1-1, 0-0 SEC)
vs. Texas State (Sept. 17)
Athlon Sports has Texas State ranked at 122nd out of 128 Division I teams.
That doesn’t bode well for the Bobcats.
Prediction: Win (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 24 in Arlington, TX)
This is a big game for both teams. While many think Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss are the obvious top three in the West, the Aggies and Razorbacks could spoil the fun.
There’s just something about Texas A&M in this spot. I have the Aggies being much better than most expect them to.
It goes to the wire but Kevin Sumlin’s team pulls out the win.
Prediction: Loss (2-2, 0-1 SEC)
vs. Alcorn State (Oct. 1)
Nothing to see here.
Prediction: Win (3-2, 0-1 SEC)
vs. Alabama (Oct. 8)
The incredible home schedule for the Razorbacks begins with the showdown with the Crimson Tide.
No one has a home schedule this impressive and Arkansas has the talent to beat several of these teams.
But Alabama is Alabama. I’m not sure the Razorbacks will be able to find enough offense to win this game.
Prediction: Loss (3-3, 0-2 SEC)
vs. Ole Miss (Oct. 15)
The good news for Bret Bielema and company is that they get to stay home a week after the tough Bama game. However, the opponent isn’t much easier.
Chad Kelly will be difficult to stop, but the Razorback defense is going to be outstanding this season.
You might as well flip a coin for the winner. I did and the Rebels came out on top.
Prediction: Loss (3-4, 0-3 SEC)
at Auburn (Oct. 22)
Just when Arkansas fans think the sky may be falling, the Razorbacks will come back with a breakthrough performance against the Tigers.
Gus Malzahn has his work cut out for him this season.
Prediction: Win (4-4, 1-3 SEC)
vs. Florida (Nov. 5)
The win at Auburn will give Arkansas a ton of confidence heading back to Fayetteville. And honestly, the Gators are a hard team to figure out at this point.
I just can’t see Florida finding enough offense against this stout Hogs defense.
Prediction: Win (5-4, 2-3 SEC)
vs. LSU (Nov. 12)
LSU is the team most likely to dethrone Alabama in the West. Leonard Fournette will once again be a beast and has a great group of talent around him.
This game is always wild. This year will be no different, but the Tigers will be on a mission after losing a close game the week before to the Crimson Tide.
A field goal decides this one.
Prediction: Loss (5-5, 2-4 SEC)
at Mississippi State (Nov. 19)
The Bulldogs should have found a way to adjust to life after Dak Prescott by this stage of the season, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be the better of these two teams.
Going on the road in the SEC is never easy. However, Arkansas will find a way to sneak out the victory and become bowl eligible.
Prediction: Win (6-5, 3-4 SEC)
at Missouri (Nov. 26)
I’m not on the Missouri bandwagon this season. I simply don’t see enough talent on either side of the ball.
Although the Tigers will have improved throughout the year, the Razorbacks are still far and away the better team.
Prediction: Win (7-5, 4-4 SEC)
Overall Thoughts
I’ve said numerous times that Arkansas is my sleeper team in the West.
The defense is going to be excellent, but the offense will need to address some concerns.
The schedule sets up nicely and the toughest games are all at home. If the Razorbacks can build some momentum early (especially with a win at TCU), that will be huge for that home stretch against some of the SEC’s best teams.
Either way, Arkansas is going to be very good this season.
Season Prediction: 7-5, 4-4 SEC
How do you see the season unfolding for the Razorbacks? Log into Facebook to comment below or hit me up on Twitter (@theblakelovell) to share your thoughts.
Blake Lovell has worked in sports media for over 10 years. He currently covers SEC football and basketball for various publications.