Selected comments from the message boards at WholeHogSports.com:
Razorback fans discuss positives from Saturday’s 20-13 win over Portland State
hogmaestro: Anyone saying the team still looks slow is just not being objective. There has been a major speed and quickness injection into the lineup… We are more talented almost everywhere on the field… Now that I think about the defense, it looked much better all around…
sweetchildofswine: My buddies and I said all off-season that we just want this to resemble (former coach Bobby) Petrino’s first year. Go 5-7 and show some signs of good things to come. That first Petrino team barely beat an FCS opponent. That team also ended the year beating LSU.
nlrbuzzard: I am cautiously optimistic that the defense is going to be much improved this year.
youdaman: I saw many positives. I thought the offensive line got off the ball much better than last year most of the day. I think the defense looks much faster. Saw a lot of good movement up front. Saw the secondary come up and actually want to hit somebody. We have athletes on offense that can hurt you if we would just put them in the positions to do that.
And the negatives
Hogmodo: We saw lots of man coverage with a safety deep, lots of blitzing linebackers and we did not have many of our receivers beating their men and getting open… On obvious passing downs I saw their four-man rush beat our five offensive linemen trying to pass block… We got lots of sacks but the majority required blitzing linebackers, safeties and corners… Ben Hicks got away with throwing several ill-advised passes that most of the teams we play would have intercepted …
razormac: Lots of work to do. That offense was unimpressive, ultra-conservative.
DudleyDawson: I am stunned that everything didn’t go perfect. That always happens in the opener, especially when there are 11 guys starting on offense that didn’t start the opener last year.
Fans talk about their expectations for the rest of the season after the first game
thehuntinhog: What has this team and staff ever done to make you think we would be a good team this year? All of you created expectations and are now disappointed. We all want better, but thinking you’re getting a six-win team this year is just crazy. We can hope for five … hopefully this season will run about like Petrino’s first.
ricemab54: Like Petrino’s first season. Liked his second more. And absolutely loved his last two.
batonrougehog: Don’t recall seeing anyone claiming that the Hogs would have a good team this year. On the other hand, I will be happy with five wins this year and still hope for six. …I think it’s too early to conclude whether we’ll end up 6-6 and 1-11 or whatever.
SwineFusion: Going back to October 1981. (Arkansas) started the month by blowing an 11-point lead in the last five minutes and losing to TCU in Fort Worth, our first loss to the Frogs in literally my lifetime. Two weeks later: Arkansas 42, Texas 11. At the time the worst blowout loss ever by a No. 1 ranked team … Point being, football teams change every week. The team that goes out Saturday night in Oxford will not be the same one that played PSU … or will play the Aggies in three weeks. Won’t be the same Ole Miss team either.
Predictions for today's game at Ole Miss
sonnyhogsdale: 0-0 draw after seven overtimes. Game called due to lack of interest. Reynolds Razorback Stadium crowd sounds like a golf tournament.
discohawg: If there’s a crowd at RRS (Saturday) then they must be smokin’ something good.
harleyhawgidson: For sure, especially since the game’s in Oxford.
gashog: We can beat Ole Miss, if we are allowed to execute our capability and not our fear. I’ll go Hogs, 33-13.
wizardofhogz: For a game between two “dogs” (from the national perspective) this is a very large game for the two participants. Ole Miss 22, Arkansas 13.
superhog1: Based on what I saw (against Portland State), Ole Miss by 14.
generalhog: I can see the future and I see Arkansas 31, Ole Miss 9.
Bobghawg: I think it will be a close game, fairly low scoring. If I bet on football games I would bet on Ole Miss, but we really need a win.
Dbhog: Well, Ole Miss’ defense will be much better than Portland State. So if we only scored 20 on PSU, I think it will be worse against Ole Miss unless Boyd rushes for 200 yards. Think 20-10 Ole Miss.
Chicagohog: Ole Miss 31, Hogs 10. Defense plays hard but will give out because our offense will again fail to do its part. Ole Miss D will stuff our offense all day. Hope I’m wrong.
batonrougehog: I’ll make a shaky prediction of Hogs 21 to Ole Miss (whatever their mascot is at the current time) 20.
Sdhog: I’d say a defensive battle that ends in a 14-7 Ole Miss win.
eaglehog5: I’m going with 20-10 rebellious ones.
Bakedhog19741: Ole Miss 31, AR 30.
georgiahawg: Think we play with more urgency and intensity than we have seen for many years. Defense continues to improve. Offense wakes up from a two-year sleep. Arkansas 27, Mississippi 13.
suigeneris: 24-16, bad guys prevail.
LDhog: Hogs 24, Rebels 14. Starkel takes control. C.J. O’Grady runs wild. Burks returns a punt for a TD.
sweetchildofswine: 27-17, Hogs.
bballhawg: Hogs 27, Rebels 24. Starkel leads a comeback.
lilhawg: I’m usually a drinker of Kool-Aid when it comes to the Hawgs, but I have little confidence after what I saw Saturday. If we were playing at home I’d go with the Razorbacks. Ole Miss 24, Arkansas 17.
jb63: I am going with the Rebs, 17-6.
hogmaestro: Defense wins championships. And games against Ole Miss. I think we win if we have a lead and our defense is on the field protecting that lead on the last drive. I believe our defense is better than the Ole Miss offense. If we have to score on our last drive … gulp. Hogs 24, Ole Miss 21.
harleyhawgidson: Hogs 20-13. Unlike this past week, though, most all Hog fans will be very happy with a 20-13 win.
white25: Arkansas 11, Ole Miss 8. Arkansas wins on a last-second field goal. Déjà vu.
Goshenhawg: 15-10. Hogs get a late safety to beat Ole Miss by the same score that they lost to Memphis.
gohawgsgo: Hogs defense continues to look better in year two for the Chief and the offense and Ben Hicks look much better. Hogs 27, Rebs 13.