Tigers provide chance for Arkansas SEC win
Off the foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
It's not a secret - the Razorback football team is struggling.
It's also not a secret that Auburn is also struggling.
In fact, outside of the Hogs' annual win over Mississippi - which isn't even a sure thing this year - Arkansas' game against Auburn might be the Razorbacks' best chance for a conference win this season.
The Tigers have it so bad on the offensive side of the ball that head coach Tommy Tuberville fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin just six games into the season.
Auburn has been offensively anemic all season.
The Tigers are ranked 103rd nationally in passing offense and 104th nationally in total offense. Auburn is also ranked 103rd in the NCAA in scoring offense and 112th in third-down conversions.
Those are really, really bad numbers - almost as bad as Houston Nutt's approval ratings during his last season in Fayetteville.
Fortunately for the Tigers, they have one of the toughest defenses in the nation.
Auburn is tied for second in scoring defense and ranks seventh in total defense.
So as bad as they are on offense, the Tigers are that good on defense.
Consider the stats, and then consider the not-so-distant past.
The Tigers have lost two of their last three games. After falling to LSU at home, Auburn won at Tennessee in unimpressive fashion. The Tigers followed that up with a two-point loss at surprising Vanderbilt.
Arkansas has also hit a bit of a rough patch as of late. The Razorbacks have dropped three straight games to Alabama, Texas and Florida.
But against the Gators, the Hogs showed signs of life. Arkansas trailed 17-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, but the defense couldn't hang on against the tough Florida offense and the Razorbacks lost 38-7.
Despite the loss, the Hogs are starting to turn things around and are showing signs of improvement.
Arkansas held Florida to only 14 points in the first half and became the only defense to intercept a Tim Tebow pass this season.
It's also not a secret that Auburn is also struggling.
In fact, outside of the Hogs' annual win over Mississippi - which isn't even a sure thing this year - Arkansas' game against Auburn might be the Razorbacks' best chance for a conference win this season.
The Tigers have it so bad on the offensive side of the ball that head coach Tommy Tuberville fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin just six games into the season.
Auburn has been offensively anemic all season.
The Tigers are ranked 103rd nationally in passing offense and 104th nationally in total offense. Auburn is also ranked 103rd in the NCAA in scoring offense and 112th in third-down conversions.
Those are really, really bad numbers - almost as bad as Houston Nutt's approval ratings during his last season in Fayetteville.
Fortunately for the Tigers, they have one of the toughest defenses in the nation.
Auburn is tied for second in scoring defense and ranks seventh in total defense.
So as bad as they are on offense, the Tigers are that good on defense.
Consider the stats, and then consider the not-so-distant past.
The Tigers have lost two of their last three games. After falling to LSU at home, Auburn won at Tennessee in unimpressive fashion. The Tigers followed that up with a two-point loss at surprising Vanderbilt.
Arkansas has also hit a bit of a rough patch as of late. The Razorbacks have dropped three straight games to Alabama, Texas and Florida.
But against the Gators, the Hogs showed signs of life. Arkansas trailed 17-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, but the defense couldn't hang on against the tough Florida offense and the Razorbacks lost 38-7.
Despite the loss, the Hogs are starting to turn things around and are showing signs of improvement.
Arkansas held Florida to only 14 points in the first half and became the only defense to intercept a Tim Tebow pass this season.
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