🏈 Wally Hall column: Tide will beat Razorbacks by four touchdowns (and other SEC picks)

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Mostly wading through more nonconference games this week, but everyone is keenly aware you don’t take anyone lightly, not even at your home away from home.
Really didn’t fare well with the picks last week, going 8-4 to bring the season record up to 19-6. I shouldn’t have picked against Ole Miss, but some habits are hard to break.
> Alabama at Arkansas: Last Saturday, this game went from national interest to National Enquirer. The Razorbacks were beaten by Sun Belt member Louisiana-Monroe and the Crimson Tide manhandled Sun Belt member Western Kentucky. Unless he has a change of heart, Nick Saban won’t run up the score. Tyler Wilson should not play. Alabama 42, Arkansas 14
> Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn: How could anyone pick against the undefeated Warhawks? Every Razorbacks fan should be pulling for them to beat the winless Tigers. If Louisiana-Monroe has put last week’s victory on the shelf, it wins on the road against another SEC team. Maybe the Warhawks should be mentioned for expansion. Louisiana-Monroe 31, Auburn 17
> Florida at Tennessee. This is a very interesting game. Tennessee’s Derek Dooley is trying to stay off the hot seat, and Will Muschamp is trying to prove he isn’t an experiment gone wrong. This is the game of the week in the SEC thanks to Louisiana-Monroe. Tennessee 27, Florida 24
> Florida Atlantic OCEAN at Georgia: Another Sun Belt school, but FAU won’t be confused with Louisiana-Monroe after losing to Middle Tennessee 31-17. Georgia gets back to full strength after beating Missouri. Georgia 42, Florida Atlantic Ocean 6
> Western Kentucky at Kentucky: The Wildcats must be having a party. This is their second consecutive cupcake, although Louisiana-Monroe has earned new respect for the Sun Belt. This is not for bragging rights, it’s just to get the wolves off Joker Phillips’ front porch for another week. Kentucky 24, Western Kentucky 3
> Idaho at LSU: The winless Vandals are lucky they didn’t schedule Louisiana-Monroe, but they won’t be happy coming out of Death Valley, either. They have been beaten by Eastern Washington and Bowling Green. Now they get crushed in Baton Rouge. LSU 49, Idaho 3
> Texas at Ole Miss: Not sure how the Rebels got the Longhorns to come to the Grove instead of Louisiana-Monroe, but this will be Hugh Freeze’s first real test as the Rebels’ head coach. The Longhorns have outscored their first two opponents 82-17. The Rebels lead at half. Texas 35, Ole Miss 24
> Mississippi State at Troy: Because of the Sun Belt rotation, Troy doesn’t play Louisiana-Monroe this year, but it did get beat by Louisiana-Lafayette last week. The Bulldogs are still under the radar but are looking much improved. Mississippi State 31, Troy 10
> Arizona State at Missouri: The Tigers are probably glad they didn’t schedule Louisiana-Monroe, but the Sun Devils have opened the season impressively, beating Northern Arizona 63-6 and Illinois 45-14. This is the Sun Devils’ first road game, though. The Tigers are looking to rebound on both sides of the ball. Arizona State 31, Missouri 28
> UAB at South Carolina: The Gamecocks are lucky they didn’t schedule Louisiana-Monroe instead. The Blazers were beaten soundly by Troy. South Carolina 35, UAB 7
> Texas A&M at SMU: A Southwest Conference throwback instead of a showdown with Louisiana-Monroe. Texas A&M 38, SMU 14
> Presbyterian at Vanderbilt: Seriously? Presbyterian? Obviously Vanderbilt didn’t want Louisiana-Monroe on the schedule. Vanderbilt 42, Presbyterian 0

 

[THROWITDEEP]

Not sure if you guys know, but Wally is the sports editor of our largest state newspaper. Many do not care for him. Id say about 35% of what I call "real sports fans" don't care for him. I think 4 TD's is too much for this game. I think it will be 3. I could be wrong.

The more I think about Tyler Wilson playing the more I think he should sit out. However, it's not going to happen. He is going to start the game. He may not finish it, but he will start.

 

[planomateo]

from what I just read, Tyler is not playing - could be rumors on twitter though...

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to watch Tyler play tomorrow at 100%, but hope his long term health/future is thought of more than short term potential.

 

[THROWITDEEP]

Literally two minutes after I made that post I got a text that says....Tyler Wilson is now a game time decision". Apparently, JLS just released this. I posted it in the other thread on Wilson's status.

 

[THROWITDEEP]

Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said no official word on quarterback Tyler Wilson's status will be available until Saturday's game with No. 1 Alabama. Here's the statement:
“There will be no further update on Tyler Wilson’s status today and he will be a game time decision.”
Smith said on Thursday that a decision on Wilson would be made Friday.
"I would expect at the latest some word [Friday] morning," Smith said. "... yeah, a decision has to be made."
While Wilson's status won't be "official" until kickoff, multiple sources tell ArkansasSports360.com not to expect Wilson to play against the Crimson Tide. Wilson did not practice on Thursday after throwing with the team on Wednesday.
Arkansas is prepping redshirt freshman Brandon Allen and wide receiver Brandon Mitchell to play quarterback in Wilson's absence.

http://www.arkansassports360.com/86...f-razorback-qb-tyler-wilson-game-time-decison

 

[planomateo]

I don't see Tyler Wilson playing, I'll be surprised if he dresses for the game.

 

[bamaraider]

It all really depends on the mindset of Arkansas. If they come in believing that this game can not be won and let the ULM loss hangover, then they will lose. But if they come in saying" if ULM can why not us" then they have a shot, whether Tyler Wilson plays or not, no team should accept defeat early.

 

[Razorback Reverend]

It all really depends on the mindset of Arkansas. If they come in believing that this game can not be won and let the ULM loss hangover, then they will lose. But if they come in saying" if ULM can why not us" then they have a shot, whether Tyler Wilson plays or not, no team should accept defeat early.

Agreed, however... most fans have already marked this as a loss. If you watched, or could see the game last week. The coaching staff
seemed lost, completely out of touch. The team ill prepared to play at all, the mindset soft. I expect at least 4 td lead at the end with Bama doing what bama does. It stinks to have no faith, but with JLS at the helm, that is where i am at!