Game Week: Arkansas

Tennessee may have lost to Florida for the eleventh consecutive time last Saturday, but that doesn’t mean the Vols’ SEC East title hopes are completely ruined.

Tennessee will get a shot at their first SEC win of the season when an underachieving Arkansas team comes to Neyland Stadium.

The Razorbacks are in the same boat as the Vols in that they also had high expectations after a strong finish to the 2014 season.

But Arkansas’s 2015 season has gotten off to a nightmare start.

After a week one victory, the Razorbacks have now lost three straight games (Toledo, Texas Tech, Texas A&M).

Here’s a look at the Vols’ and Razorbacks’ first meeting since 2011:

Arkansas Razorbacks at Tennessee Volunteers

Game Information

Kickoff: Saturday at 7:00 PM EST

TV: ESPN2

Line: Tennessee by 7

Arkansas Razorbacks (1-3)

Head Coach: Bret Bielema (3rd season)

Offensive Coordinator: Dan Enos

Defensive Coordinator: Robb Smith

2015 Season Notes

- Running back Jonathan Williams was ruled out for the season due to preseason injury. Williams would have been leading returning rusher (1,190 yards in 2014)

- Started season ranked No. 18 in AP Poll, No. 20 in Coaches Poll

Arkansas players to watch:

Brandon Allen, quarterback

In Bret Bielema’s first two seasons as the head coach at Arkansas, the Razorbacks established an identity as a run heavy offense.

But this season, the Arkansas offense has transitioned into a little more balanced attack, which has forced quarterback Brandon Allen to be more than just a game manager.

Allen has had a good start to 2015, passing for 1,141 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Allen has been a bit limited in what he can do, due to a lack of playmakers at receiver and the loss of his number one receiver, Keon Hatcher, to injury.

The Tennessee secondary that he will face on Saturday has some issues, but has also shown significant improvement from the beginning of the season.

Allen and the Arkansas passing game will need a good day for the Hogs to be able to consistently move the ball on Tennessee.

Alex Collins, running back

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas’s leading rusher from 2014, was lost for the season due to injury, but that didn’t slow down the Razorback rushing attack.

Alex Collins, who along with Williams rushed for over 1,000 yards, has been the featured back for Arkansas and already has 502 yards rushing just four games into the season.

Tennessee’s defense has been average against the run so far this season, allowing 145.8 yards per game (52nd in the nation), but Collins and Arkansas will be their biggest test yet, and could cause some defensive issues.

#arkansas