Samford @ Arkansas preview

Arkansas first-year coach Bret Bielema has made a career out of winning home games, a fact that shouldn't come as welcome news for FCS member Samford in Saturday's non-conference game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The former Wisconsin coach, whose new team is fresh off a 34-14 victory at home over Louisiana Lafayette, is 48-5 in career home games. Nearly as impressive is Arkansas' record at War Memorial Stadium, which stands at 148-54-2 and 89-26-2 against non-conference teams.

The Razorbacks should have little trouble preventing last season's disastrous result in Week 2 - a 34-31 overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe which sent Arkansas on a four-game losing streak en route to a 4-8 season. Quarterback Brandon Allen was 6-for-20 in that fateful game, but began his sophomore season by going 15-of-22 for 230 yards and three touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette. Arkansas also piled up 292 yards on the ground, with Jonathan Williams (151) and Alex Collins (131) doing the bulk of the damage.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Arkansas -32.5.

ABOUT SAMFORD (1-0): The Bulldogs scored in all three phases of the game in posting their first victory over a FBS program last week against Georgia State 31-21. They will be hard pressed to repeat the feat against an SEC program such as Arkansas, but still assistant Bill D'Ottavio, who is filling in for coach Pat Sullivan while he recovers from back surgery, likes what he saw. "All wins are big," he said. "You can't overestimate a win, and going on the road for the opener, this is a great win for us."

ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-0): The Razorbacks were picked to finish last in the SEC West this season, a fact that has Bielema on guard entering this game. "I do think that was a good team we beat, but on the same account we've got an SEC schedule waiting on us," Bielema said. "As coaches, we have to constantly remind our guys that you're only as good as your last play."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Samford's Fabian Truss earned the Southern Conference's Special Team Player of the Week award for his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Georgia State.

2. Arkansas junior Trey Flowers was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his five tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks against Louisiana Lafayette.

3. Senior center Travis Swanson has started all 39 games of his career for Arkansas, which puts him in a tie for the third-longest consecutive starts streak for active players.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 49, Samford 6