After four straight seasons where the Arkansas Razorbacks combined win total was 11, the team had its best season in over a decade in 2021-22. Coach Sam Pittman in his second season led the team to nine wins, a bowl victory over Penn State and a top-10 ranking mid-way through the season after surprise wins over Texas and Texas A&M.
What can they do for an encore?
The offense was the star of the show as the team led the SEC in rushing, had a top-ten passing attack and averaged 31 PPG.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson leaped into the spotlight as a dual-threat and now as a junior he is poised to be among the very best players in the nation.
The defense was mediocre last year, allowing 400 yards or more four times and 37 points or more in each of their losses, but that was a big improvement from the previous couple of years. In that stretch, opposing offenses hit that number a combined 17 times.
The pass rush remains a question mark, but the secondary that had 13 interceptions last year has another chance to be special.
They are hoping that LSU transfer DL Landon Jackson will be just what the doctor ordered for the defense and the same is true with the arrival of WR Jadon Haselwood Jr. coming from Oklahoma.
They’ll need it in order to conquer one of the most challenging schedules in the nation.
2022 Arkansas Razorbacks NCAA Football Futures Odds
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 90/1
Odds to win the 2022 SEC Conferences: 50/1
Odds to win the 2022 SEC West Division: +16/1
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Under 7½ (-150)
2022 Heisman Contenders: K.J. Jefferson 80/1 & Jadon Hasselwood 500/1
Official website: goducks.com
Twitter Account : @oregonfootball
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 90/1
It’s a gauntlet of a schedule that includes home dates against Alabama, South Carolina and last year’s darling, Cincinnati in their season opener. Texas A&M will take place at a neutral location and somehow this team will play just four of its 12 games on the road.
They’ve recruited well to help build on last year’s success and that makes them a dark horse candidate if they can pull off more close wins in toss-up games.
The Verdict: Worth a flyer, but they’ll need to get past Alabama in their own division
Odds to win the 2022 SEC Conferences: 50/1
Everything I said about their chances of winning the NCAA Championship are true for the SEC. Playing in the same division as Alabama who figure to be better than the team that went all the way to the championship game, means it’s a long shot. But the odds make a small investment worth it.
The Verdict Worth a flyer, but it’s a real long shot
Odds to win the 2022 SEC West Division: +16/1
Rinse, lather, repeat, but as the odds narrow, the value isn’t the same. As of course, beyond Alabama it also means coming out on top over Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU.
The Verdict: Another long shot that is worth a small investment
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Under 7½ (-150)
While I keep touting their dark horse potential, the win/loss bet requires a more practical approach. Fair to expect wins over Missouri State, Mississippi State (on the road), BYU (a tough road matchup), Liberty, Ole Miss and Missouri.
That means getting two more wins against Cincinnati, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn and LSU. The only road game is against Auburn, so that certainly helps.
The Verdict: It’s a solid, albeit risky bet with that schedule. There are better options to consider in the top-25.
2022 Heisman Contenders: K.J. Jefferson 80/1 & Jadon Hasselwood 500/1
K.J. Jefferson completed 67% of his passes last year, for 2,676 yards, 21TDs and just 4INTs. He also ran for 664 yards and four TDs. He did all of this as a sophomore, so yes, he should be able to improve on those numbers. But his candidacy rests on the team beating the behemoths in his division. And that likely rests on his ability to take his play to a whole new level.
The Verdict: Worth a bet if you think the team can get to 10 or 11 wins and challenge Alabama for the division. I think they will
Jadon Hasselwood came in from Oklahoma to be the WR1 and replace Treylon Burks who put up 1,104yards and 11 touchdowns. He could be capable of that, but I don’t see him as a true contender for the top individual prize in the nation.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Arkansas Razorbacks 2022 Schedule
| SEASON | |||
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
| 03-Sep | 2:30 p.m. | Cincinnati* | ESPN |
| 10-Sep | 11:00 a.m. | South Carolina | ESPN |
| 17-Sep | 6:00 p.m. | Missouri State* | SECN+/ESPN+ |
| 24-Sep | vs. Texas A&M | ||
| 01-Oct | Alabama | ||
| 08-Oct | at Mississippi State | ||
| 15-Oct | at BYU* | ESPN Networks | |
| 29-Oct | at Auburn | ||
| 05-Nov | Liberty* | ||
| 12-Nov | LSU | ||
| 19-Nov | Ole Miss | ||
| 25-Nov | 2:30 p.m. | at Missouri | CBS |
Home stadium: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR
*Non-conference game – All times are in Central time
Bet on the Arkansas Razorbacks 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
