Finally?

THIS               vs.                              THIS

 

Who's not excited!  I do this to illustrate a point in reverse.  That healthy looking guy on the right seems to have a sizable advantage, no?  Seems, yes.  But, this is why we let humans represent mascots instead of the other way around.  I think THE University makes it 1-9 against the SEC in bowl games.  Finally.

Arkansas is certainly happy to be in their first BCS bowl game, and this can cut one of two ways.  It could go like Boise State or Utah on their first shots, or it can go like it did for the Illini when they went to the Sugar Bowl.  I think here, it'll be the latter.  See, Boise State felt cheated.  Utah felt cheated.  Illinois was happy to be in a major bowl after almost 20 years.  Arkansas is happy, too.  Now, before anybody starts searching for teams that were just happy to be in a bowl and did, in fact, win, I'll tell you that there are quite a few (every year, in fact).  I'm not saying that this contentedness is the kiss of death.  But, it certainly is when you're playing a team as stacked as the Buckeyes.

I can't see a whole lot of angles to make Arkansas win.  Sure, Ohio State starts slow in most games, so Arkansas could strike quick and often, but with what weapon.  Most everyone knows Ryan Mallett is legit, but who is he throwing to?  Truth is, Arkansas spreads the ball around because they don't have a real dynamic receiver.  They rely on Mallett to make his reads and throw when somebody gets open.  That's fine in two situations: 1)When you have a lot of time and 2)somebody eventually does get open.  All-Big Ten linebacker Brian Rolle gets in the backfield consistently and breaks up passes (4 on the season) and gets picks (when he falls back).  And the deep ball is relatively unavailable with velcro corner Chimdi Chekwa and safety Jermale Hines roaming. Arkansas, on the other hand, is weak in the secondary.  And although linebacker Jerry Franklin has been outstanding getting to the quarterback, Terelle Pryor  is awfully elusive.

Both teams can run the ball well, but it doesn't seem like either will much here.  I expect Ohio State to out-pass  the Razorbacks and score early for a change.

OSU 28 over ARK 13