AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, Dec. 29
Arkansas vs. Texas

– After not winning an SEC game in 2013, and struggling in conference play early in 2014, it all started to come together for Arkansas under Bret Bielema winning three games in four before the loss to Missouri to end the regular season. Even so, the Hogs are in a bowl, and are much better than their 6-6 record considering all six losses were to fantastic teams. The running game is among the strongest in America, and the ball control attack works.

– Texas isn’t supposed to be playing in minor bowls as it fights to come up with a winning season, but that’s the deal and that’s its place in the world at the moment. Charlie Strong deserves credit in his first season for keeping everyone fighting in the second half, with a three-game winning streak leading to bowl eligibility before getting blasted by TCU, but this has to be a stepping-stone to more. The defense overall has been great, especially against the pass, but the offense has been a disaster at times against the decent teams. QB Tyrone Swoopes and the team need the extra bowl practices, and they’re getting them.

First Reaction: A lot of this depends on whether or not the Bret Bielema To Michigan wacky rumors have any legs. The Texas run defense is going to load up to do what it can against the brutish Hog O line, but Arkansas has the nasty attitude on both sides of the ball. It’s Bielema in a bowl game, but his offensive line will overcome that.
First Prediction: Arkansas 24 … Texas 13