Auburn tries to get off the mat as the Tigers travel to Fayetteville to battle Arkansas and interim head coach Bobby Petrino on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. ET.
The Tigers are coming off four-straight losses, the latest being a heartbreaking 23-17 double-overtime defeat to Missouri in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The Razorbacks have lost five straight, but have held close in the last two defeats, a 34-31 loss to No. 12 Tennessee and a 45-42 defeat to No. 4 Texas A&M. Arkansas fired head coach Sam Pittman following a home blowout loss to Notre Dame, with Petrino taking over.
Arkansas is currently a 2.5-point favorite against Hugh Freeze's Tigers. Here is how our team sees the game going.
Mary Kate Hughes
I read that the weather is going to be rainy and windy, and the Tigers are facing off against a quarterback ranked No. 1 in total offense. The defense has saved Auburn time and again this season, but this may be its toughest challenge yet. Will Arnold (or Daniels?) be able to cook something up on offense on the road? This season's track record says probably not.
Arkansas 24, Auburn 7
Jack Cottrell
Auburn didn't look terrible against Missouri. Under the stadium lights of Jordan-Hare, Jackson Arnold managed to complete 18/30 passes and drag the game into two overtimes. As Hugh Freeze has explained, Auburn is close to a breakthrough, and on paper, Arkansas shouldn't be a challenge for the Tigers' talent-heavy roster. The Razorbacks recently fired their head coach and are 2-5 (0-3) on the season. However, Auburn has solidified itself as a one-sided team. While the Tigers' defense has proven itself one of the best in the nation, an inability to move the ball down the field, largely stemming from quarterback struggles, has led Auburn to a 3-4 (0-4) record heading into Week 9. With Freeze on the hot seat and even tougher games ahead, victory for the Tigers is a must.
Auburn 20, Arkansas 17
Brian Stultz
The conditions are going to be lousy in Fayetteville, as heavy rain is forecasted around game time. That means Auburn will likely use the rushing game more than it has been, with Jeremiah Cobb and Omar Mabson getting carries, while Jackson Arnold can use his legs to get the job done as well. My only question is if Auburn's defense, which has been playing lights out, can keep it up against an Arkansas offense that has been able to put up points against some quality defenses. Auburn will need to score 25 points or more to win this one.
Auburn 28, Arkansas 24