Auburn @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Arkansas 3, Auburn 56

Auburn kicked off a challenging six-week stretch on a sour note last week - and with things about to get a whole lot more difficult, the No. 21 Tigers can ill afford another letdown Saturday at Arkansas. A 27-23 setback at LSU put Auburn a game back of top-ranked Alabama in the SEC West, and a bounceback effort against the Razorbacks is the only shot the Tigers have of not falling out of contention altogether.

Auburn had a dream start to the conference schedule - winning each of its first three games by at least three touchdowns - but couldn't sustain a hot start against LSU, getting outscored 27-6 after the first quarter. "This is an extremely tough loss from the standpoint that we got off to an extremely good start," head coach Gus Malzahn told reporters afterward. Auburn is in an ideal bounceback situation, however, with Arkansas playing less-than-inspired football. The Razorbacks are coming off a 41-9 rout at the hands of the powerhouse Crimson Tide, keeping them winless in conference play.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Auburn -15.5

ABOUT AUBURN (5-2, 3-1 SEC): The Tigers will look to regroup offensively after averaging just 3.3 yards per play in the final three quarters against LSU - a significant drop from the 9.9 yards per play they posted in the opening 15 minutes. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham has been a picture of consistency for the majority of the season but will need to rebound after being held to 165 passing yards and one touchdown in the LSU defeat. On the plus side, running back Kerryon Johnson appears to have hit his stride after injuries and inconsistency plagued him over the first month of the season; he has 476 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over his past three games.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (2-4, 0-3): Razorback fans will likely be treated to another start from freshman quarterback Cole Kelley, who asserted himself well in rough circumstances last week with starter Austin Allen on the shelf. Head coach Bret Bielema isn't expecting Allen to return against Auburn, telling reporters: "If it came to a point later in the week where he could practice Thursday, I think there's merit to (Allen returning this week). Where he's at right now, I'd say we're still a couple of weeks away, but Austin is a guy who surprises a lot of people, and if he can go and do things, it's a positive for us." The Razorbacks have had few answers on defense, surrendering at least 40 points in each of their first three conference games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Johnson's 13 rushing touchdowns lead the nation, one ahead of Navy QB Zach Abey.

2. Auburn crushed Arkansas 56-3 in last year's meeting.

3. Arkansas WR Jonathan Nance had his streak of games with a receiving TD snapped at four last week vs. Alabama, managing just one catch for three yards.

PREDICTION: Auburn 45, Arkansas 28