This weekend, 5 banker buddies and myself embark on Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama to watch the Hogs take on the #2 ranked Tigers. We will leave immediately after work friday and drive to Montgomery and find a cheap hotel for a few hours, before leaving early again Saturday morning to get to the stadium for the 11:00 kickoff. We've rented a conversion van complete with a DVD player and captains chairs. It will hopefully be a fun and memorable trip. The 11:00 kickoff is too early for a weekend football game start time in my opinion, but history favors the visiting team in these situations. The early kickoff doesn't allow the home team fans to tailgate all day long and consume beverages of choice that will enhance their "team spirit" come game time. I'll take the advantage if there is one. The Hogs are outmatched physically on paper. Auburn is big and strong and fast and have only allowed opponents an average of 8 points per game scoring thus far. The key to an Arkansas victory, in my opinion, is the unveiling of first year offensive co-ordinator Gus Malzhan's new "no huddle, hurry up offense", if head coach Houston Nutt allows him to run it full throttle. We have seen glimpses of it in the first 4 games but it is definately a watered down version. Rumors are that the players have embraced it and want to run it but the Head Hog subscribes to a more "ball control" philosophy. In my opinion, it boils down to pride. Coach Nutt had to give up play calling responsibilities this year in order to secure his job but he didn't want to. He conceded in hiring an O.C. but one rein still lays in Nutt's hand. Pride. Now Tuberville has some pride issues of his own. Reflect back to his post game comments after the South Carolina game in which the reporter asked about the surprise on-side kick that completely caught Spurrier off guard. It was a great call. Did he give his staff any credit? No. His response was, (paraphrased),"It worked at the time and made me look like a genius." Pride. I think the winner of this game may come down to which head coach gives way to his prideful thinking, and allows the staff they have assembled go out and do their job. Arkansas in an upset, 21-17.

¶ 9:02 PM