Rutgers @ Arkansas preview

After an upset loss to Louisiana-Monroe and an ugly blowout loss to top-ranked Alabama, the host Razorbacks attempt to keep their season from spiraling totally out of control against unbeaten Rutgers on Saturday. Unranked Arkansas, which started the season in the top 10, fell 52-0 to the Crimson Tide as starting quarterback Tyler Wilson missed the game with a concussion, and afterward questioned whether his teammates quit. The Scarlet Knights opened Big East play with a 23-13 victory over South Florida, and bring the fifth-best scoring defense (8.3 points per game) into Fayetteville. Rutgers eyes its first 4-0 start since 2006.

TV: 7 p.m. ET., ESPNU. LINE: Arkansas, -7

ABOUT RUTGERS (3-0): Sophomore running back Jawan Jamison posted his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, dating back to last season, with 151 yards against South Florida. Jamison carried a school-record 41 times in the victory. Quarterback Gary Nova passed for 277 yards in the victory, and is competing 55.1 percent of his passes through three games. Linebacker Khaseem Greene, last season’s Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 10 tackles last week and has reached double-digits in tackles in his past five games.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-2): The going has been anything but smooth for first-year head coach John L. Smith. Arkansas figured to have one of the top offenses in the nation with Wilson at quarterback and running back Knile Davis recovered from a knee injury. But Arkansas ranks 86th nationally in total offense (359.3 yards) through three games. Wilson hopes to play against Rutgers, but had not been medically cleared as of late Wednesday. Arkansas needs improvement on defense as well. The Razorbacks gave up 24 points to Jacksonville State and 34 points in the overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe before the Alabama blowout.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arkansas backup quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Brandon Mitchell combined to go 11-for-25 for 79 yards against Alabama.

2. Rutgers ranks ninth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (59.0).

3. The Razorbacks are tied for 19th in the nation in red-zone defense, holding the opposition out of the end zone six times in 18 attempts.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 24, Rutgers 20