How Will Bret Bielema Fair as Arkansas Head Coach?

Bret Bielema has been in the college football world far longer than (what I assume) most people realize. He played for the Iowa Hawkeyes, but also served as an assistant coach there from 1993 to 2001. In 2002 he became the co-defensive coordinator for the Kansas State Wildcats. He kept that position until 2004 when he got hired by the Wisconsin Badgers to serve as the defensive coordinator as well. After one year as the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Barry Alvarez announced his retirement from coaching, and Bielema became the head coach of the Badgers.

Bielema was quite impressive his first year at Wisconsin. Not only did he lead them to a Capital One Bowl victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, but he also led them to a 12-1 record. Bret also led Wisconsin to a victory over the #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

Bielema ended up winning 17 of his first 18 games as head coach of the Badgers, which is the second-best start to a head coaching career in the Big Ten, only seconded by former Michigan coach Fielding Yost.

Between 2006 and 2012, Bret racked up 68 wins as the Wisconsin head coach, and only lost 24 games. He coached the Badgers in six bowl games, but only won two. Two of the losses were in the Rose Bowl.

As I mentioned before, Bret did lead Wisconsin to a victory over the Buckeyes in his first year, but that was the one and only victory he saw as Wisconsin head coach. Overall he went 1-5 against Ohio State.

Although Bret did fair very well as head coach of the Badgers, never having a losing season, now he finds himself with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the very impressive SEC. In the Big Ten Bielema found himself against many tough matchups, including Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and his alma mater Iowa. But some may argue that the SEC is a tougher conference. We won't get into comparing conferences right now, but he will find himself in games against the likes of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Auburn Tigers the Florida Gators and many others.

I'd say it's safe to say that it's going to be tough for Bielema to see the same success he saw his first year as Wisconsin head coach, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. However, he is playing Florida, Alabama and LSU at their home stadiums.

Bielema has an quite the impressive coaching career, and I expect to see the same style and same winning attitude out of him at Arkansas, but the SEC is a little bit different than the Big Ten. Will it be a difference that benefits Bielema or hurts him however, we will just have to wait and see.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

#7 LSU Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks Preview

Although LSU looks to be the odds on favorite to win this game, it's dangerous. I've always been a firm believer in, those teams that you're playing that you should beat soundly, have nothing to lose, therefore, they're more dangerous to you than an undefeated team.

Am I saying that Arkansas is going to upset the LSU Tigers this Saturday at Razorback Stadium? Not necessarily, but feel that if LSU comes into this game over confident, thinking it's a gimme game, thinking because Arkansas is ranked 4-7 that it's going to be easy, they could possibly be in trouble.

Arkansas hasn't had a great year. One of it's worst in quite a while. When John L. Smith took over as head coach of the Razorbacks, people weren't sure what to think. Now we can only assume that this is his one and only year as head coach there.

LSU QB Zack Mettenberger has thrown for 2,272 yards this season.

The key to this game is going to be LSU's junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger. This season he has thrown for 2,272 yards. He has thrown 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. If he can shred that Arkansas defense, who has only six interceptions all season long, LSU can easily win this game.

Arkansas' passing game isn't too bad either, passing for over 296 yards on average per game. But LSU's defense is only allowing an average of about 17 points per game.

It's definitely a tough matchup for Arkansas, but like I said, if LSU comes in over confident, and Arkansas takes advantage of that, watch out LSU, because you'll be falling out of the Top Ten.

I have LSU in this one. Winning rather easily.

LSU: 41
Arkansas: 21

- Jackson McNamara

@jacksonmcnamara