Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee predicts Arkansas last in the West...

[Darren DeLoach]

He said on Bo Mattingly's show today that the Hogs will win one maybe two conference games this year. Just a little fodder for the dog days until the season begins.

Looks like he wrote a brief story on it as well...nothing new.

http://teamstre.am/29AXp9c

SEC Media Days 2016: B/R Barrett Sallee's Predicted Order of Finish | Bleacher Report

via ble.ac/teamstream-

[MuskogeeHogFan]

He said on Bo Mattingly's show today that the Hogs will win one maybe two conference games this year. Just a little fodder for the dog days until the season begins.

You mean this....?

Mississippi State and Arkansas will both be competitive and make bowl games, but this a retooling year for each.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2650958-sec-media-days-2016-br-barrett-sallees-predicted-order-of-finish

[Darren DeLoach]

I was running and heard him being interviewed by the guys on Bo's  show. I assume the article points out the same scenario. He did mention that he expected us to be bowl eligible, but to finish in 6th.

[Darren DeLoach]

His logic was the typical talking points for those predicting a bottom of the division finish. Offense losses, DB 's terrible, no proven HB or QB.

He keyed in on the secondary and the Hunter Henry loss.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I was running and heard him being interviewed by the guys on Bo's  show. I assume the article points out the same scenario. He did mention that he expected us to be bowl eligible, but to finish in 6th.

It's a safe projection for him. With what we have to replace in production on offense and the unknowns on defense for this year, based on last year, his projection is a comfy spot to land. Even the renowned Phil Steele doesn't seem to be able to get a handle on who we will be...6-6 or 9-3? Kind of a big difference. Sallee is doing nothing more than taking the road with the least slope. Easier to say "I was wrong" if we win more than projected, than having to say "I was wrong" if he went out on a limb and picked us higher and we underachieved. It's just that time of year.

[Darren DeLoach]

Completely agree with your view on the projections made by the mass media. Seems folks aren't looking at the monster issues of A&M or Auburn or even Ole Miss for that matter.

I believe our season will be dictated by a few games: Texas A&M, Auburn,  Mississippi State, and Florida. Lose all 4 or go 1-3 and we are the bottom feeder. Split and we are where I think most of us believe, or 3-1/4-0 and we get to the double digit win column.

[KlubhouseKonnected]

Completely agree with your view on the projections made by the mass media. Seems folks aren't looking at the monster issues of A&M or Auburn or even Ole Miss for that matter.

I believe our season will be dictated by a few games: Texas A&M, Auburn,  Mississippi State, and Florida. Lose all 4 or go 1-3 and we are the bottom feeder. Split and we are where I think most of us believe, or 3-1/4-0 and we get to the double digit win column.

Could be that they feel more confident about those teams bouncing back based largely on how highly evaluated the talent was in the recruiting classes they have been bringing in.

[bphi11ips]

So Ole Miss loses Nkemdiche, Tunsil and Treadwell - 3 players in the first round - has lost two straight to Arkansas and has to travel to Fayetteville - and that's not a penciled in Razorbacks win?  Same thing with LSU without the NFL losses.  Ole Miss is traveling on its QB, but Brandon Harris has proven nothing other than his weaknesses.  LSU visits Arkansas a week after playing Alabama.  I'm sorry, but straight up I have to take the Hogs in those two.

Alabama barely sqeaked by the Hogs in 2014 and only because they were lucky.  We played them toe-to-toe in Tuscaloosa last year until Bielema got impatient with the kicking
game.  Bama gets Arkansas on the road a week before traveling to Tennessee.  They have depth and talent, but Arkansas has a 4th year junior QB and the most underrated group of WRs in the country.  The Hogs should be undefeated coming into this game and coming out of it, too. 

Florida is the one I have trouble dealing with.  Will they have an offense?  If not the Hogs could win this one, but Florida usually beats Arkansas up in the trenches and burns them on the edges.  I'll believe we can beat Florida when I see it.  A lot seems to have changed since Urban Myer and Steve Spurrier were running things.  Still, Florida feels like a loss.

Arkansas is better than Mississippi State.  Period, end of story.  Back to winning against those aggies.

Auburn is an unknown.  Their own fans don't have a good feeling about the season.  But the Hogs travel to Auburn after Alabama and Ole Miss.  It will be hard to get up for those three in a row, and Auburn is coming off an open date.  At least we won't have to play in the August soup, but if Auburn finds a QB they will be hard to beat in Jordan-Hare.  Best hope is for Auburn to lose 2 or 3 early and have a lynch mob mentality in their fanbase by the time we arrive.  Ya'll will love that.  If not, this game is probably a loss.

Arkansas is better than the rest of the teams on their schedule and should win them all, and that includes TCU and A&M.  Guys like Barrett Sallee flip a coin between Mississippi State and Arkansas and say 6 or 7. 

[lefty08]

He also predicted LSU 5th in the west, dude is a clown, and the website that employs him is crap



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[Dominicanhog]

He also predicted LSU 5th in the west, dude is a clown, and the website that employs him is crap



Next

it's like stock pickers on TV.. they never ask how you've done with your previous picks ..... wish they'd give a percentage of correct calls on all these prognosticators...

[FANONTHEHILL]

60% of the time, he's right every time.

[Peter Porker]

He is an Auburn grad btw.

[Biggus Piggus]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2522037-sec-media-days-2015-br-barrett-sallees-predicted-order-of-finish

Barrett Sallee's picks this time last year (actual results in parentheses):

SEC West

Alabama (Alabama)
Auburn (Ole Miss)
Ole Miss (Arkansas and LSU, tie)
Texas A&M
Arkansas (Texas A&M and Mississippi State, tie)
LSU
Mississippi State (Auburn)

SEC East

Tennessee (Florida)
Georgia (Georgia and Tennessee, tie)
Missouri
Florida (Vanderbilt and Kentucky, tie)
South Carolina
Kentucky (Missouri and South Carolina, tie)
Vanderbilt

I don't know how anyone makes picks in the East. Four teams finished way under .500 last season. Only one West team was under .500.

[Biggus Piggus]

Barrett Sallee's SEC West predictions in 2014:

Auburn 11-1, 7-1 SEC (actual 8-5, 4-4)
Alabama 11-1, 7-1 (12-2, 7-1)
LSU 9-3, 5-3 (8-5, 4-4)
Ole Miss 9-3, 5-3 (9-4, 5-3)
Texas A&M 7-5, 3-5 (8-5, 3-5)
Mississippi State 7-5, 3-5 (10-3, 6-2)
Arkansas 3-9, 0-8 (7-6, 2-6)

The final records above include bowl games, which Sallee did not predict.

Sallee loves him some Auburn, doesn't he. Sallee was most consistently wrong about MSU and Arkansas.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Completely agree with your view on the projections made by the mass media. Seems folks aren't looking at the monster issues of A&M or Auburn or even Ole Miss for that matter.

I believe our season will be dictated by a few games: Texas A&M, Auburn,  Mississippi State, and Florida. Lose all 4 or go 1-3 and we are the bottom feeder. Split and we are where I think most of us believe, or 3-1/4-0 and we get to the double digit win column.

While we can say that all games are important, I think that the stretch of games from Oct 8th through Nov 12th, with an open date on Oct 29th just prior to the Florida game, and with 4 of the 5 games being at home in Fayetteville, will truly determine how this season turns out for the Hogs.

10/8   Alabama
10/15  Ole Miss
10/22  at Auburn
10/29  Open
11/5   Florida
11/12  LSU

Win 3 of 5 or even 4 of the 5 and we will see a better season than many expect. Lose 4 of the 5 and we will be fighting late in the season to get a bowl. But JMO.

[The Kig]

While we can say that all games are important, I think that the stretch of games from Oct 8th through Nov 12th, with an open date on Oct 29th just prior to the Florida game, and with 4 of the 5 games being at home in Fayetteville, will truly determine how this season turns

If we can find a way to get to Oct 8th without a loss or even with a split (TCU/A&M), the offense will have had time to find an identity and gel under AA.  If the CRS Defense from 2014 shows up instead of the mess from 2015...or better, then we can be competitive in that gauntlet.  I believe CRS can be a good DC, but last year showed that we didn't have plug and play replacements for the Triangle.

So many "is" are why predictions are all over the board and the safe place is 6th or 7th. 

[Dominicanhog]

While we can say that all games are important, I think that the stretch of games from Oct 8th through Nov 12th, with an open date on Oct 29th just prior to the Florida game, and with 4 of the 5 games being at home in Fayetteville, will truly determine how this season turns out for the Hogs.

10/8   Alabama
10/15  Ole Miss
10/22  at Auburn
10/29  Open
11/5   Florida
11/12  LSU

Win 3 of 5 or even 4 of the 5 and we will see a better season than many expect. Lose 4 of the 5 and we will be fighting late in the season to get a bowl. But JMO.

agree about this stretch... win 3 of 5, along with 5, maybe 6 more, would make for a very nice season... less than 3 wins during this stretch makes for major disappointment, unless we have already beaten TCU and A&M... I'd like to see 5 conference wins, to show our sustainability in the SEC... to do this imo, we really need the A&M game, just to get in position for the difficult stretch you mention.....

[Arkansas Fan]

So Ole Miss loses Nkemdiche, Tunsil and Treadwell - 3 players in the first round - has lost two straight to Arkansas and has to travel to Fayetteville - and that's not a penciled in Razorbacks win?  Same thing with LSU without the NFL losses.  Ole Miss is traveling on its QB, but Brandon Harris has proven nothing other than his weaknesses.  LSU visits Arkansas a week after playing Alabama.  I'm sorry, but straight up I have to take the Hogs in those two.

Alabama barely sqeaked by the Hogs in 2014 and only because they were lucky.  We played them toe-to-toe in Tuscaloosa last year until Bielema got impatient with the kicking
game.  Bama gets Arkansas on the road a week before traveling to Tennessee.  They have depth and talent, but Arkansas has a 4th year junior QB and the most underrated group of WRs in the country.  The Hogs should be undefeated coming into this game and coming out of it, too. 

Florida is the one I have trouble dealing with.  Will they have an offense?  If not the Hogs could win this one, but Florida usually beats Arkansas up in the trenches and burns them on the edges.  I'll believe we can beat Florida when I see it.  A lot seems to have changed since Urban Myer and Steve Spurrier were running things.  Still, Florida feels like a loss.

Arkansas is better than Mississippi State.  Period, end of story.  Back to winning against those aggies.

Auburn is an unknown.  Their own fans don't have a good feeling about the season.  But the Hogs travel to Auburn after Alabama and Ole Miss.  It will be hard to get up for those three in a row, and Auburn is coming off an open date.  At least we won't have to play in the August soup, but if Auburn finds a QB they will be hard to beat in Jordan-Hare.  Best hope is for Auburn to lose 2 or 3 early and have a lynch mob mentality in their fanbase by the time we arrive.  Ya'll will love that.  If not, this game is probably a loss.

Arkansas is better than the rest of the teams on their schedule and should win them all, and that includes TCU and A&M.  Guys like Barrett Sallee flip a coin between Mississippi State and Arkansas and say 6 or 7.

Florida doesn't scare me in the trenches. With Bielema, I think we'll always be in good hands. What scares me about Florida is their speedy WRs getting open because our DB play isn't good, even if they have mediocre QB play.

Their defense will pretty good but by that time I think our offense will be cruising by then.

[Biggus Piggus]

Barrett Sallee's SEC West predictions in 2014:

Auburn 11-1, 7-1 SEC (actual 8-5, 4-4)
Alabama 11-1, 7-1 (12-2, 7-1)
LSU 9-3, 5-3 (8-5, 4-4)
Ole Miss 9-3, 5-3 (9-4, 5-3)
Texas A&M 7-5, 3-5 (8-5, 3-5)
Mississippi State 7-5, 3-5 (10-3, 6-2)
Arkansas 3-9, 0-8 (7-6, 2-6)

The final records above include bowl games, which Sallee did not predict.

Sallee loves him some Auburn, doesn't he. Sallee was most consistently wrong about MSU and Arkansas.

Don't know what I was thinking. Sallee most consistently underrated MSU and Arkansas, but he was most wrong about Auburn, his favorite team.

[NaturalStateReb]

Meh.  It's the talking season, as Spurrier used to say.

[wildturkey8]

Meh.  It's the talking season, as Spurrier used to say.

Exactly, pay them no heed.

[hogcard1964]

I would guess there's literally 0% chance this team finishes in last.

[Pig in the Pokey]

And I predict 2nd.

[Biggus Piggus]

I would guess there's literally 0% chance this team finishes in last.

I would not say that. Arkansas would not be crippled by a couple of injuries. That is the kind of team that usually finishes last. But is it mathematically possible for all seven teams to tie for first? In such a case, Arkansas would be first and last in the West.

[HogBreath]

He also predicted LSU 5th in the west, dude is a clown, and the website that employs him is crap



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This is so unfair to clowns.

[popcornhog]

I would guess there's literally 0% chance this team finishes in last.

Nothing would surprise me. I wouldn't be shocked by anything this year -- winning the West or coming in 7th. Lots of unknowns.

But there's not a 0% chance of finishing in last.

[navyhog24]

Stopped reading at "Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee"

[nwahogfan1]

there will be several close games next year where someone(s) has to step up.  It can be our defense making a big play to stop a team from scoring in the final 2 minutes or it may be AA may need to make a play in the final 2 minutes on offense.  Who wins those games will decide if we are 9-3 or 6-6 or anywhere in between.

Lets see who will be our play makers this year.  We need them to step up and shine.

[JackJohnson]

it takes time to build a program the right way...especially when CBB took over a complete dumpster fire devoid of any talent or high character kids.  It may take 2 full recruiting cycles (8 years) to rid the program of the mess left by Petrino and JLS

[ricepig]

it takes time to build a program the right way...especially when CBB took over a complete dumpster fire devoid of any talent or high character kids.  It may take 2 full recruiting cycles (8 years) to rid the program of the mess left by Petrino and JLS

I guess it depends on what you mean the "right" way, I'd say we will see the fruits of our labor these next few years. I'm not predicting championships, but good seasons.

[Hogarusa]

Some of you take predictions like an insult to a family member.  It would be best for your health and well being to ignore if you cant handle it emotionally.

[EastexHawg]

it takes time to build a program the right way...especially when CBB took over a complete dumpster fire devoid of any talent or high character kids.  It may take 2 full recruiting cycles (8 years) to rid the program of the mess left by Petrino and JLS

And some of us were amazed when Nutt got a two year pass.

Completely devoid of any talent?  Do Brandon Allen, Darius Philon, Jonathan Williams, Chris Smith, Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Travis Swanson, and Zach Hocker know they are completely devoid of talent?

[Biggus Piggus]

And some of us were amazed when Nutt got a two year pass.

Bielema already got his two-year pass, though he had only one losing season vs. Nutt's two.

I agree though -- Arkansas was not devoid of talent, only had some talent holes when Bielema took over.

They were pretty bad holes, especially at linebacker, Oline, QB, and wide receiver.

[ricepig]

Bielema already got his two-year pass, though he had only one losing season vs. Nutt's two.

I agree though -- Arkansas was not devoid of talent, only had some talent holes when Bielema took over.

They were pretty bad holes, especially at linebacker, Oline, QB, and wide receiver.

We were rudderless, I'll admit I was in the give it to JLS camp to hold it together, biggest mistake ever.

[MJ2]

He said on Bo Mattingly's show today that the Hogs will win one maybe two conference games this year. Just a little fodder for the dog days until the season begins.

Looks like he wrote a brief story on it as well...nothing new.

http://teamstre.am/29AXp9c

SEC Media Days 2016: B/R Barrett Sallee's Predicted Order of Finish | Bleacher Report

via ble.ac/teamstream-

Assume he's right for 2016, then what happens?   

[ricepig]

Assume he's right for 2016, then what happens?   

We move on to 2017?

[Jackrabbit Hog]

We move on to 2017?

Thank God the Mayans were wrong..

[ricepig]

Thank God the Mayans were wrong..

I know why they perished, on a trip to Chichen Itza outside of Cancun years ago to look at the ruins, it was a onehundredthirtyeleven degrees, I assume they melted.

[WizardofhOgZ]

He also predicted LSU 5th in the west, dude is a clown, and the website that employs him is crap

Next

I didn't hear the interview, and I totally agree about Bleacher Report, in general . . .

But . . .

I also must say that I've been reading Sallee for the past 5-6 years now, and he's usually a pretty objective guy.  In fact, I'd almost call him pro-Arkansas, on balance, over the years.  He was on Scouts "College Football News" site when I first started reading him, but moved to TBR a year or so back.  That's a squirrely website - many "reporters" there are just nothing more than fans, no different than what you read on boards like this.  On the other hand, as time has gone on, they do have some legit journalists, like Sallee mixed in.

Of course, I hope he's wrong.  But it's not like he's had a history of being ignorant about Arkansas football or has not paid attention, because he has.  That said, he can still be wrong and I hope he is.  If I'm being honest, part of me is afraid that he's not.  I've said for the past year that 2017 is going to be our "payoff" season, and anything we get in 2016 is gravy to me.  I'm greedy and I always want for the Hogs to be successful.  But I acknowledge that there are a number of real question marks on this year's team, and the odds are against our finding answers to all of them.  A lot of those question marks have to do more with lack of experience than they do long-term talent - so that's why I'm pointing more toward 2017.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I know why they perished, on a trip to Chichen Itza outside of Cancun years ago to look at the ruins, it was a onehundredthirtyeleven degrees, I assume they melted.

They'da never lasted in a rice field.



Oh, and Barrett Sallee hates Arkansas.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

It's a safe projection for him. With what we have to replace in production on offense and the unknowns on defense for this year, based on last year, his projection is a comfy spot to land. Even the renowned Phil Steele doesn't seem to be able to get a handle on who we will be...6-6 or 9-3? Kind of a big difference. Sallee is doing nothing more than taking the road with the least slope. Easier to say "I was wrong" if we win more than projected, than having to say "I was wrong" if he went out on a limb and picked us higher and we underachieved. It's just that time of year.

Speaking of slopes...

2013 SEC record 0-7 with an average score of -21 points.
2014 SEC record 2-6 with an average score margin of -1.5 points
2015 SEC record 5-3 with an average score of +4.5 points

The projection for 2016 would be 6-2 with an average scoring margin around +6 points.

Bottom line is with a likely slightly less efficient offense and a slightly better defense Arkansas will be marginally better in 2016 against a conference that is slightly weaker with a conference schedule that is more favorable and overall about the same except for the TCU game.

[Peter Porker]

And some of us were amazed when Nutt got a two year pass.

Completely devoid of any talent?  Do Brandon Allen, Darius Philon, Jonathan Williams, Chris Smith, Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Travis Swanson, and Zach Hocker know they are completely devoid of talent?

A few underclassmen. Good job, champ.

[GuvHog]

A few underclassmen. Good job, champ.

Doesn't matter what class they were in, the team was far from devoid of talent when CBB took over.

[ricepig]

Doesn't matter what class they were in, the team was far from devoid of talent when CBB took over.

Yeah, one OL will get you far, especially playing Bielema's style............

[HiggiePiggy]

Yeah, one OL will get you far, especially playing Bielema's style............

Style is the key.   He had talent. It didn't fit his style though. That was a big reason for such a terrible first season.  His style was not what was ran the previous 4 years here.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Meh.  It's the talking season, as Spurrier used to say.

^^^ this

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Doesn't matter what class they were in, the team was far from devoid of talent when CBB took over.
[/quote

Huh? Seriously?..."Smile!"

[tusksincolorado]

Well some writer this season has to play the role of "dullest knife in the drawer".

GO HAWGS!  :razorback:

[Chief Mac]

Barrett Sallee's SEC West predictions in 2014:

Auburn 11-1, 7-1 SEC (actual 8-5, 4-4)
Alabama 11-1, 7-1 (12-2, 7-1)
LSU 9-3, 5-3 (8-5, 4-4)
Ole Miss 9-3, 5-3 (9-4, 5-3)
Texas A&M 7-5, 3-5 (8-5, 3-5)
Mississippi State 7-5, 3-5 (10-3, 6-2)
Arkansas 3-9, 0-8 (7-6, 2-6)

The final records above include bowl games, which Sallee did not predict.

Sallee loves him some Auburn, doesn't he. Sallee was most consistently wrong about MSU and Arkansas.

He's a HUGE Auburn homer. 

[Peter Porker]

Doesn't matter what class they were in, the team was far from devoid of talent when CBB took over.

That's a good one!