Arkansas @ Mississippi State preview
Davis Wade Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2009 ) Mississippi State 21, Arkansas 42
Since a tough conference loss to Auburn, Arkansas has rebounded with four consecutive victories.
Mississippi State hopes to take a cue from Razorbacks as it looks to bounce back from having a six-game winning streak snapped when No. 13 Arkansas visits Starkville on Saturday.
Arkansas (8-2, 4-2 SEC) has won four straight since a 65-43 loss at Auburn on Oct. 16, and the Razorbacks have rolled up some major offensive numbers in the process. They've averaged 46.5 points and 509.8 total yards during the streak, including a season-high 577 total yards in last week's 58-21 home win against UTEP.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen hopes the No. 22 Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3 SEC) respond similarly from last week’s 30-10 loss at Alabama – their first defeat since Sept. 18 at LSU.
The Bulldogs slipped four spots in this week's coaches' poll, but they remained among the Top 25 for the fifth week in a row, their longest stay in the rankings since an eight-week run in 2000.
Mississippi State's powerful running game never really got going against the Crimson Tide, as the Bulldogs were held to 149 yards on 49 carries, their lowest rushing total since they ran for 117 yards in a 17-14 loss to Auburn in the second game of the season.
The Bulldogs' ability to run the ball and stop the run has been the best harbinger of their success this season. Mississippi State has outrushed its opponents in all seven wins, while the three teams that have outgained the Bulldogs on the ground – Alabama, Auburn and LSU – have handed them their three losses.
That stat might go out the window against an Arkansas team that depends heavily on the pass for its offensive success, though it did rack up a season-high 326 rushing yards against UTEP. Led by star quarterback Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks lead the SEC and rank third in the nation with 343.6 passing yards per game.
Arkansas showed off that passing prowess in last year's 42-21 win over the Bulldogs, as Mallett threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns.
The key for Mississippi State could come down to keeping Arkansas' high-powered offense out of the end zone. The Bulldogs have been stingy about giving up points – they rank 16th in the nation in scoring defense at 18.3 points allowed per game – but finding the end zone has been the Razorbacks' specialty.
Arkansas ranks second in the conference and 13th nationally with 37.9 points per game, and the Razorbacks' 49 touchdowns are third-best in the SEC and tied for 15th in the nation.
The Razorbacks have barely missed a beat without top receiver Greg Childs, who was lost for the season to a knee injury suffered three weeks ago against Vanderbilt, scoring 99 points in two games without him.
Arkansas leads the series 13-6-1 and has won 10 of the past 11, including last year's win in Little Rock.