Georgia @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Arkansas 31, Georgia 24

Tenth-ranked Georgia will again be without standout running back Todd Gurley as it looks to stretch its winning streak to five games when it visits Arkansas on Saturday in SEC play. Gurley remains on indefinite suspension due to an investigation over whether he accepted money for autographs and other memorabilia. The Razorbacks have dropped 15 consecutive SEC games after losing fourth-quarter leads against Texas A&M (Sept. 27) and Alabama (Oct. 11).

True freshman Nick Chubb rushed for 143 yards on 38 carries in Georgia’s 34-0 trouncing of Missouri last week to make up for Gurley’s loss and silence some of the doomsday talk. “We are not a one-man team, so we had a chip on our shoulder,” tight end Jay Rome told reporters. “We’re going to play for Georgia and we’re going to play for Todd.” The Bulldogs are second in the SEC and 11th nationally in rushing (275.7), while Arkansas is even better as it leads the league and ranks 10th in the nation at 278.7.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Georgia –3.5.

ABOUT GEORGIA (5-1, 3-1 SEC): Chubb has 367 rushing yards and could be in line for another heavy workload with Keith Marshall (knee, ankle) about to miss his fourth straight game. Quarterback Hutson Mason is completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 843 yards with eight touchdowns as opposed to three interceptions. The blanking of Missouri was the defense’s second of the season and the unit is led by outside linebacker Amarlo Herrera (team-leading 47 tackles) while inside linebacker Ramik Wilson has 41 stops.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-3, 0-3): The Razorbacks have yet to win a conference game under coach Bret Bielema, who promises his team is about to notch a victory after the near-upset of Alabama. “It’s not tough to get a team back up from the two losses,” Bielema told reporters. “They are a team that cares, but they do see themselves getting closer and closer.” Arkansas runs the ball well with Alex Collins (634 yards, six touchdowns) and Jonathan Williams (569 yards, nine scores), while the defense is led by weak-side linebacker Martrell Spaight (53 tackles), defensive end Trey Flowers (seven tackles for loss) and defensive tackle Darius Philon (seven tackles for loss).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia leads the series 9-4 but the teams are meeting for the first time since 2010.

2. Arkansas QB Brandon Allen has been picked off only twice in 137 passes while throwing for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns.

3. Despite missing last week’s game, Gurley still leads the SEC in rushing yards (773) and average per carry (8.2).

PREDICTION: Georgia 27, Arkansas 23