Arkansas @ UL Monroe preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2008 ) UL Monroe 27, Arkansas 28

Arkansas is seeking its second easy victory in a row when it meets Louisiana-Monroe Saturday in Little Rock.

Following their 44-3 dismantling of Tennessee Tech in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks are currently ranked 15th in the nation – the Hogs’ highest ranking since just prior to their appearance in the Capital One Bowl in 2006.

Against the Golden Eagles, Arkansas started slowly and trailed 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Razorbacks shook off the sluggish start and began clicking, behind quarterback Ryan Mallett in the second quarter.

Mallett was nearly perfect, completing 21 of 24 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. It was his sixth 300-yard passing performance in 14 games as a Razorback. The running game also scored three touchdowns while gaining nearly 200 yards and averaging seven yards per carry.

Playing better defensively was undoubtedly a focus for Arkansas entering the season. It was evident in limiting Tennessee Tech to only 187 total yards and a field goal.

The only concerns for the Razorbacks in the season opener were their three turnovers (two INTs, one fumble) while forcing none, and nine penalties.

Petrino and the Hogs likely won’t take heavy underdog Louisiana-Monroe lightly. Just two years ago during Petrino’s first season at Arkansas, the Razorbacks trailed the Warhawks by 18 points midway through the third quarter before storming back and winning in the final minute, 28-27.

This season should be a rebuilding campaign for Louisiana-Monroe, which was one of just two FBS teams that had an open date last week. The Warhawks have a new head coach in Todd Berry and return only 10 starters. However, dual-threat quarterback Trey Revell (2,093 yards of total offense, 17 TDs in 2009) and running back Frank Goodin (1,126 rushing yards, 13 TDs) both return, along with first-team All-Sun Belt Conference defensive end Troy Evans (32 tackles, 6.5 sacks).

Although the game is being played at the Razorbacks’ “second home” of Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, it is considered a home game for Louisiana-Monroe, so it can count the 50,000-plus in attendance to its home season average to stay above the minimum requirement for FBS status.

No matter the “home team,” Arkansas is expected to have its second tune-up in as many games in preparation for a true test next week when the Hogs travel to take on Georgia in a conference road game. Since moving up to Division I-A in 1994, Louisiana-Monroe has played at least one SEC team every season. Arkansas is 26-0 all time against Sun Belt teams, including 8-0 versus the Warhawks.