This Saturday, Missouri gets the oppurtunity to end what has primarily been a “what if” season, on a triumphant note. Missouri heads to Fayettevile to take on their appointed SEC rival, the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tigers are in full health, apart from players like Blake Craig and Sam Horn, who were season-long injuries. Kick returner and wideout, Demarion Fowlkes, will also be out.

To put it bluntly, Arkansas is not good. That might be an understatement. The Hogs are 2-9 and have been struggling to find victory, for many weeks now. Losing to Ole Miss and Memphis due to fumbles was frustrating, but after taking a pounding at home by Notre Dame, the Hogs opted to fire head coach, Sam Pittman. In the least expected news you thought you’d hear in 2010, Arkansas promoted OC Bobby Petrino to interim head coach.

The Hogs just agreed to terms with South Florida head coach Alex Golesh, who served as an OC at Tennessee and, most recently, the head man for the USF Bulls. However, even with that great hire, Golesh will not be there Saturday to save the Hogs, it’s just down to the fightin Petrino’s to do the job. The question is can they?

The optics say possibly. After all, Missouri is coming off a tough loss to Oklahoma, a game that was frustrating for the Tigers to say the least. The offense has been in shambles, and the Tiger defense can only do so much without any help. Arkansas is desperate to round the year off on a positive note, trying to at least get something to brag about in a potential 3-9 season.

I think it’s safe to say that it’s in Missouri’s best interest to avoid the upset here, so here are the 3 keys to accomplish that.

1. Give the freaking ball to Hardy and Roberts: Their seems to be a common theme for the Tigers offense this season and it goes a little like this. When the Tigers face a competent defense, they struggle. Teams know how to key on Ahmad Hardy and when they do, the Tiger offense becomes essentially garbage. However, when the Tigers face a horrendous defense, they can live with pounding the rock 35-45 times in a game, similar to the game against Mississippi State.

It is coaching malpractice if the Tigers don’t run the ball at least 35 times. I believe that’s the number they must hit to win this game. Because let’s be honest, if they are forced to throw… I don’t understand how you could say with full confidence that you trust the Missouri offense.

2. When you run, stay on schedule: Another point to go along with point number one is that when the Tigers run the ball, especially on early downs, they have to consistently get positive yardage. We have seen it time and time again, but when the Missouri offense is pushed back into 2nd and 8 or longer, the drive is already over, essentially. I think the key for the offense is to gain at least 3-4 yards on first down, every time. I think if this offense has to play from behind, Arkansas has a legitimate shot to win this game.

3. Force Taylen Green into a turnover: It’s no secret that Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, is one of the most dynamic players in the conference and could be an NFL draft pick. At 6’6 with a live arm, he has everything that scouts drool over. On the flip side, however, the con to the Taylen Green experience is turnovers. So far this year, Green has posted 11 of them, averaging 1 per game.

I think this Missouri defense is good enough to force at least one turnover and if it can o that, I believe the Tigers walk out of Arkansas with a win.

In conclusion, the keys to this game are eerily similar to the games of the past. Be effective on the ground, stay on schedule, and win the turnover battle. Let’s see tomorrow if Missouri is able to do this.