Following a 34-24 home loss to Texas A&M, Mississippi State hosts Arkansas for an 11:45 a.m. kickoff Saturday on SEC Network.
The Razorbacks have a signature win over Tennessee earlier this month but have been a delicate balancing act and are coming off a lopsided home loss last week against LSU. Head coach Sam Pittman was on the hot seat coming into the season, and he may still be, but Arkansas has improved significantly from last year’s 4-8 campaign.
What: Arkansas at Mississippi State
When: 11:45 a.m. Saturday
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville
TV: SEC Network
Betting line: Arkansas by 6.5
Weather: Mostly sunny skies with a high of 86 degrees and winds out of the northwest at 4 miles per hour, per AccuWeather
Records/rankings: The Bulldogs are 1-6 overall and 0-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Razorbacks are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. Neither team is ranked or receiving votes in either the AP Top 25 or the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Series history: Arkansas leads 18-15 with one tie. MSU has won the last two meetings, picking up its only conference win last year in Fayetteville with a 7-3 victory.
Mississippi State update: The Bulldogs have lost six straight games, the program’s longest losing streak since 2005, and their defense is among the worst nationally in nearly every category. MSU did intercept Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman twice last week, but getting off the field on third down was the biggest issue. Texas A&M converted nine of its first 10 third downs, including a third-and-23 on the opening drive of the second half.
Freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren continues to progress, throwing three more touchdown passes in his first home start, but the Aggies’ defensive front had him under duress for most of the second half as the Bulldogs’ offensive line found itself overmatched. Another dynamic freshman, wide receiver Mario Craver, sustained a lower-body injury last Saturday and is unlikely to play against Arkansas.
Arkansas update: The Razorbacks have been an enigma all year long, struggling to put away a bad UAB team but using a superb defensive performance in their upset of the Volunteers. Arkansas played turnover-free football in that game but turned the ball over three times a week ago in its 34-10 loss to LSU. Quarterback Taylen Green is a true dual threat but has thrown as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes.
Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson leads the Arkansas offense with 10 touchdowns on 592 rushing yards, but he injured his angle against the Tigers and may not be available Saturday. The Razorbacks’ defense is usually good enough to keep it in games, but the pass rush struggled last week against a strong LSU offensive line.
Arkansas players to watch: QB Taylen Green, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, WR Andrew Armstrong, DL Landon Jackson, DB TJ Metcalf.
Prediction: As hungry as MSU is for a conference win, and as much as I wanted to pick the Bulldogs, I just can’t trust this defense to string together enough stops. Arkansas 38, Mississippi State 31.
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