It’s gameday, folks
September 01, 2007
So last night I’m hanging out in the hotel with a good friend of mine from high school and college, Riley Logan, who works at the Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville. I saw a player - I think it was Andrew Davis - walk up to someone with his Troy t-shirt. On the front, it had the “Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime” motto over the Trojan sword.
Don’t worry, it was only about 9 p.m. Bedcheck according to the card I saw was 10:30. Of course, the last time Troy was in the state of Arkansas, three players snuck out the night before the game. That was at Arkansas State in 2005, the day before a 9-3 game that officially ensured a losing season.
Those miserable days are over for Troy fans. The schedule slogan (which really hits hard in 2008 with @LSU and @Ohio State), kicks off tonight at 6 at Arkansas.
To be honest, I think Troy has a great chance to pull the upset, but there are question marks about both teams that make me shy away from it. I was on the air on a Fayetteville station Tuesday saying I thought it would be a close game. Of course, after I’m cut off I get online to listen. He had a quote from Blakeney, then said “the more and more I hear about this game being close, the less I believe it. Arkansas by at least 20.”
Well, 20 points covers the spread. Let’s look at it a little more.
Time: 6 p.m. CST
TV: None
Radio: 94.7 FM WTBF (man that Jerry Miller’s going to sound good on color)
Key matchups: Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hills vs. Troy linebackers Marcus Richardson, Boris Lee and Josh Maxwell. It’s clear the Hogs are going to run. Can Troy’s linebackers stop them past the line of scrimmage? Will Boris Lee be able to cover Hills out of the backfield on those flare passes? The big key for Troy will be stopping slowing down the run and forcing Casey Dick to pass.
Big question: How will Troy’s untested offensive line hold up through the duration of the game? It’s clear the Trojans have depth all across the board at the other positions, more so in years past. If Troy can run the ball, the Trojans have a chance. If that offensive line is tired in the fourth quarter and it’s a close game and all the sudden Omar Haugabook has less and less time to throw, then Woooooo! Pig Suey! gets louder and louder.
Prediction: Arkansas 24, Troy 20
***After the game, the Trojans’ charter plane will fly back to Dothan Regional Airport. ETA 2 a.m.
