Dogging on ESPN has become so en vogue that it’s almost a caricature of itself among the masses. Lots of people who do it have no idea what they’re talking about.
That’s especially the case when it comes to the network’s data-driven content. Full disclosure: I am a former employee of such a department at said place. The College Football Power Index and the College Basketball Power Index are all numbers and therefore objective.
So when the BPI model states that Arkansas has just a 10% of beating Mississippi State on Saturday, no bias comes along with that. It’s just a statement of the Hogs’ flat-out indeptitude this year.
Twice this year have the Razorbacks (12-12, 3-8 in SEC) been beaten by record margins by their SEC brethren. Auburn knocked off Arkansas in January by more points than any team ever had in Bud Walton Arena. On Wednesday, Tennessee’s 29-point win was the largest margin that series history, too.
That’s how the Bulldogs, even with a sub-.500 records in SEC play themselves, are so easily favored for victory.
Really, there’s no surprise there. Arkansas hasn’t won in Starkville in – get this – nine years. Mississippi State hasn’t exactly been breaking down the walls of accomplishment for most of those nine years. The Razorbacks truly just play poorly there.
And in a season like this, in which they have exactly one impressive wins November? Yeah. Take the ‘Dogs.