Arkansas @ South Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) South Carolina 28, Arkansas 44

South Carolina had an off week to adjust to life without star running back Marcus Lattimore, who is done for the year with a knee injury. The No. 11 Gamecocks wrap up SEC play Saturday when they host Arkansas, which has won three of four following a miserable start. South Carolina hopes to snap a three-game losing streak to the Razorbacks and finish with a 6-2 conference mark for the second straight season. Before last year, South Carolina never had finished better than 5-3 in the SEC.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: South Carolina -14

ABOUT ARKANSAS (4-5, 2-3 SEC): The Hogs will be short-handed at linebacker after starter Terrell Williams was suspended indefinitely following his DUI arrest Sunday. They will start two freshmen at linebacker. Quarterback Tyler Wilson isn’t having the Heisman season many envisioned, but he’s thrown 16 touchdown passes against eight interceptions and has four 360-yard passing games, tied for second-most nationally. Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton leads the SEC with 69 catches and 1,077 yards. Defensive end Chris Smith is the SEC’s co-Defensive Lineman of the Week after forcing a fumble Arkansas recovered to secure last week’s 19-15 victory over Tulsa. He had eight tackles, 1.5 for loss, and two pass breakups.

ABOUT NO. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA (7-2, 5-2): Running backs Kenny Miles and Mike Davis have 66 carries between them this season, but will have to carry the load with Lattimore out. Quarterback Connor Shaw is coming off his best performance. In South Carolina’s 38-35 victory over Tennessee, he accounted for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney cannot be blocked one-on-one. The sophomore, who has 16.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in 22 career games, leads a defense giving up only 18.3 points per game. This will be Steve Spurrier’s 100th game as Gamecocks coach.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Seventeen Razorbacks have made their first start this season, most in the SEC and seventh-highest nationally.

2. Arkansas has won eight straight against SEC East teams, the longest current inter-division streak in the SEC.

3. South Carolina has won nine straight home games dating to last season’s loss to Auburn.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 24, Arkansas 17