Kentucky @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2008 ) Arkansas 20, Kentucky 21

THE STORY: A pair of SEC squads on the wrong side of .500 square off in Fayetteville on Saturday, as Arkansas hosts Kentucky. The Razorbacks snapped a four-game skid last time out at Auburn with a 24-7 win and look to run their winning streak over teams from the SEC East to a school-record eight games. The Wildcats fell to No. 19 Mississippi State last week and have dropped four straight decisions, but the schedule turns more favorable moving forward after they faced four ranked opponents in their first six games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Network. LINE: Arkansas -17

ABOUT KENTUCKY (1-5, 0-3 SEC): Head coach Joker Phillips has seen quarterbacks go down in consecutive games with Maxwell Smith out indefinitely and freshman Patrick Towles suffering a high ankle sprain against Mississippi State. Fellow freshman Jalen Whitlow will get the call under center in his second career start and will need to find his game quickly for Kentucky to have a shot. Whitlow has connected on just 23 of 50 passes in parts of three games, with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Linebacker Avery Williamson is averaging 10.7 tackles per game, leading the Wildcats and ranking second in the SEC.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (2-4, 1-2 SEC): The defense led the way in the win over Auburn, recording eight sacks and forcing five turnovers in a dominant effort. A similar effort this week could spell big trouble for a young and injury-depleted Kentucky squad. Quarterback Tyler Wilson leads the SEC and is among the best in the nation, averaging 317 passing yards per game. The Razorbacks have no choice but to forge forward without leading tackler Alonzo Highsmith, who was lost for the season with a foot injury in the win over the Tigers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Arkansas defense enters play ranked last in the conference against the pass and has had trouble getting off of the field, allowing a conference-worst 152 first downs.

2. Kentucky leads the all-time series against Arkansas 4-2 and is 2-0 all-time in Fayetteville.

3. Excluding a 52-0 loss to No. 1 Alabama, the Razorbacks are averaging more than 35 points per game at home this season.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 34, Kentucky 10