It’s amazing what a

winning football team does

for the attitude of an area. The air seems cleaner, the sky looks clearer and everybody’s disposition is a bit sunnier. Hog fever has not only spread across the state, but it’s also creeping across the nation, even to the Big Apple. Evidently Regis Philbin was singing the Hogs’ praises on his “ Live with Regis and Kelly” Thursday morning on ABC. The former host of “ Who Wants to be a Millionaire ” stopped just short of Calling the Hogs after predicting a Razorback beat down of the Florida Gators in the Dec. 2 SEC Championship Game.

That’s good publicity, particularly if the grandmother of a hot recruit happened to be watching.

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But ol’ Reeg was putting the cart before the horse. The Hogs still have some work to take care of before trips to Atlanta can be safely planned.

The Razorbacks should win Saturday’s 1: 30 p. m. game with Mississippi State, giving them the outright Western Division title, but even in what is becoming a storybook season, things don’t always work out as planned.

While the Bulldogs have struggled this season, they will show up for the ballgame and there is nothing they would rather do than rain on the Razorbacks’ parade.

Earlier in the week, Bulldogs coach Sylvester Croom wasn’t in the mood to concede anything.

When questioned about Arkansas’ offensive line being the best in the SEC, he barked, “ I don’t know that their line is the best. We haven’t played them yet. I do know LSU’s is pretty good, and Alabama’s. We have a good one, too, right here. ”

Croom was embarrassed how his team performed in the first half of a 44-10 loss to the Hogs last season, and he is preparing his club to ambush the Razorbacks.

If Mississippi State is to derail the Razorbacks’ bandwagon, the Bulldogs will have to contain the Razorbacks’ rushing game.

And Mississippi State is good against the run, holding opponents to just 119. 9 yards rushing per game. That’s well below the Hogs’ average of 240. 9 yards rushing a game.

Something will have to give. While I don’t believe it will be the Razorbacks — MSU is giving up 26. 1 points per game for 11 th in the SEC — Arkansas will have to earn every yard in Starkville, in order to keep their fans smiling.

Tipoff change The Razorback basketball team is back in action at 7 p. m. Saturday when they play host to Stephen F. Austin at Bud Walton Arena. The game was originally scheduled for a 2 p. m. tip, but was moved to avoid clashing with the Razorbacks’ football game, which kicks off at 1: 30 p. m.

Neither game is televised but both will be broadcast on the Arkansas Razorbacks Sports Network. The tipoff for the Razorbacks’ contest on Dec. 16 against Texas Tech at North Little Rock’s Alltel Arena has been set for 1 p. m. Tickets are $ 25 apiece and are on sale at the Alltel Arena ticket office at 501-975-9000 or online at www. ticketmaster. com.

Terry J. Wood is the sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.