Last Updated on September 15, 2010 2:10 pm by Anthony Rome
Arkansas vs. Georgia Preview
Athens, GA – Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said he’s happy with his team’s opening two victories but sees plenty of room for improvement.
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Petrino might need some of that to take place in time for Saturday, when the 12th-ranked Razorbacks open a difficult four-game stretch without one of their top playmakers and visit a Georgia team which could get back one of theirs.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Georgia –2.5 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against the Arkansas. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 55% of more than 3,298 bets for this game have been placed on the Arkansas +2.5.
Minus running back-kick returner Dennis Johnson, Arkansas (2-0) opens SEC play looking to snap a six-game losing streak to the Bulldogs (1-1, 0-1). The Razorbacks haven’t won in this series since a 20-10 road victory Oct. 2, 1993, a drought that will be tougher to end if star Georgia receiver A.J. Green makes his season debut in this matchup.
The Razorbacks have won their first two games by a combined 75-10 score, and Ryan Mallett has shined in both, completing 73.1 percent of his passes for 701 yards and six touchdowns. The junior had 400 yards and three TDs in last Saturday’s 31-7 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
Arkansas, though, committed three turnovers in that win and in its season-opening victory over Tennessee Tech. Last week, the Razorbacks were held to 14 points through three quarters and finished with 99 rushing yards on 31 attempts, a week after gaining 196 on 28 carries.
“We are where we wanted to be after the first two games of the year, as far as the record goes,” Petrino said. “We certainly have a lot of work ahead … to improve before the Georgia game.”
Getting more from the ground game could be a little more difficult without Johnson, who suffered a “bowel injury” in last week’s victory. The junior was ninth in the SEC in total offense last season (111.2 yards per game) and is the school’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards with 1,936.
He had 85 yards on nine carries this season, including a team-best 49-yard run against Tennessee Tech.
“I’m very concerned about Dennis,” Petrino said. “He had an internal injury that did require surgery. We’re not even thinking about a timetable for his return right now. We’re just thinking about his health. Hopefully, he’ll improve. He’s been doing well.”
While Arkansas knows it won’t have Johnson, Georgia is holding out hope Green will be available.
The school is lobbying the NCAA to have Green’s four-game suspension reduced so he could return as early as this week. The junior drew the suspension for selling his game jersey from last year’s Independence Bowl for $1,000.
Green had 53 receptions for 808 yards and six touchdowns in 2009 despite missing all or part of five games with injuries. He caught seven passes for 137 yards and two TDs in last season’s 52-41 win at Arkansas.
“If you have a player like A.J. Green, you want to use him,” coach Mark Richt said. “Right now I guess the best way I could say it would be I’m hopeful, but to say I have any clue how it could go, I have no idea.”
Arkansas would probably be glad to avoid facing Green as it won’t dodge much else over the next four weeks. After taking on Georgia, the Razorbacks host No. 1 Alabama next week, play Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 9, and head to No. 16 Auburn on Oct. 16.
The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after falling from the rankings with last Saturday’s 17-6 loss at then-No. 24 South Carolina.
They were held to 253 yards, including 61 on 26 rushing attempts after running for 184 in a 55-7 season-opening win over Louisiana-Lafayette.
Georgia could get some help with tailback Caleb King expected to return after he sat out last week with an ankle injury.
Arkansas has lost its two trips to Athens by a combined four points, falling 23-20 in its previous visit Oct. 22, 2005.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 9-3 but have dropped six of eight against Top 25 opponents, including three straight at home.
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