Arkansas @ Mississippi State preview

Arkansas at Mississippi State

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2015 ) Mississippi State 51, Arkansas 50

Two teams capable of beating anyone in the country go head-to-head Saturday as Mississippi State hosts Arkansas, with the winner escaping the basement of the SEC West. Two weeks ago, Arkansas beat Florida for the first time since 1982 and Mississippi State picked off then-No. 4 Texas A&M, but each is coming off decisive losses to conference powers.

The Razorbacks qualified for a bowl for the third straight season after the Florida victory, but were steamrolled by LSU 38-10 last week. The Bulldogs' momentum from the A&M upset was squashed a week later with a 51-3 loss to No. 1 Alabama. The teams meet for the 27th time and will be hard-pressed to top the excitement of a 51-50 victory by Mississippi State last year in a game decided by a seven-touchdown performance from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The last three games in the rivalry have been decided in the final seconds and Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen knows what to expect, telling reporters: “It seems like it comes down to the final play against Arkansas. It’s kind of gone back and forth pretty much my whole time here.’’

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Mississippi State -2.5

ABOUT ARKANSAS (6-4, 2-4 SEC): Arkansas looks to stabilize a hot-and-cold season by overcoming a defense that has allowed 6.34 yards per carry and gave up 390 yards to LSU last week. Quarterback Austin Allen has thrown for 2,501 yards and 20 touchdowns and was the SEC’s pass efficiency leader at midseason, but his consistency has been spotty since suffering a knee injury in the Auburn loss Oct. 22. Running back Rawleigh Williams III surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark last week for the Razorbacks, who have not won back-to-back games since opening 3-0.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-6, 2-4): The Rebels were outgained 615-274 in total offense against Alabama, but didn’t help themselves by failing to score a touchdown in nine trips into Crimson Tide territory. Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald can do it all, throwing for 1,850 yards and 16 touchdowns and running for 854 and eight scores. Offensively, the team averages 214.2 rushing yards, but its productivity is given back by a defense that allows 31.9 points.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mississippi State, one of only three SEC teams with an overall record below .500, is playing its first unranked opponent since Oct. 1, when it defeated FCS Alcorn State.

2. All four of Arkansas’ losses have come to ranked teams – No. 16 Auburn, No. 1 Alabama, No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 14 LSU.

3. The Bulldogs have won straight meetings with the last three decided by seven points or fewer.