Arkansas @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) Tennessee 7, Arkansas 49

Arkansas and Tennessee are two of the biggest disappointments early in the season after being popular picks to turn around years of mediocrity. The two struggling squads will try to stop the bleeding when they meet Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville in their first encounter since 2011.

While the Razorbacks have dropped three in a row, the Volunteers' two losses may sting even more, as Butch Jones' team has lost double-digit fourth-quarter leads against Oklahoma and Florida. "We are two plays or 10 seconds away from being 4-0, but we are 2-2," Jones said. "We can't let two plays or 10 seconds define who we are." Arkansas also lost a fourth-quarter lead before dropping a 28-21 decision in overtime at Texas A&M last weekend. Failing to right the ship in Tennessee could cause the Razorbacks to fall out of sight with visits to Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU on the horizon.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Tennessee -6.5

ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-3, 0-1 SEC): The Razorbacks have had a wide variety of issues in their three losses, but two constants have been ill-timed penalties (their 31 infractions are the most in the SEC) and turnovers. "We can't win football games doing that," coach Bret Bielema said after the Texas A&M loss. "And I think our kids need to hear that." Quarterback Brandon Allen, who has thrown one interception in three straight games for the first time since the end of the 2013 season, has shouldered the blame for poor fourth-quarter execution and may be feeling the effects of injuries that have ravaged the receiving corps.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (2-2, 0-1): The Volunteers piled up 254 more rushing yards in the loss to Florida and are the only SEC team with at least 200 attempts on the ground, but they will be tested against the Razorbacks, who rank second in the conference in rush defense (93.8 yards). Quarterback Joshua Dobbs piled up 136 rushing yards last week and Jalen Hurd added 102, his third straight 100-yard effort. That is the longest streak for a Tennessee running back since Arian Foster did it five games in a row in 2005.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Razorbacks WR Drew Morgan, who had 10 catches in his first two seasons combined, made eight grabs for 155 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M.

2. Tennessee leads the SEC in turnover margin (+5) and is fifth among FBS teams in fewest lost turnovers (two).

3. Arkansas won the previous meeting at home by a 49-7 margin.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 31, Arkansas 23