FAYETTEVILLE -- Perhaps subconsciously the Arkansas Razorbacks wanted to fuel the "Battle Line Rivalry" with Missouri.
Because in the worst way, that's certainly what they did. Blowing a 24-7 halftime lead to lose 28-24 to the allegedly woeful Missouri Tigers on Friday afternoon in Columbia, Mo., surely in Arkansas should instill the battle to the Battle Line Rivalry. Previously, it seemed regarded more borderline than battle line by many Razorbacks fans.
This whole battle-line business has seemed contrived, an artificial concoction from an insurance company's ad department.
But real rancor manifests in Arkansas now. The bowl bound Razorbacks were skunked in the second half by a Tigers team allegedly dreadful defensively and unabashedly unqualified to go bowling, finishing 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the SEC East.