Game day: Arkansas at Tennessee

Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, left, runs for a 10-yard touchdown past Florida defensive back Brian Poole (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla.
Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, left, runs for a 10-yard touchdown past Florida defensive back Brian Poole (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla.
photo Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, left, runs for a 10-yard touchdown past Florida defensive back Brian Poole (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla.

ARKANSAS (1-3, 0-1 SEC) AT TENNESSEE (2-2, 0-1)

7 p.m. * Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. * ESPN2/106.5 FM

THE MATCHUP

Alex Collins and Jalen Hurd won't play a single snap against each other, but both running backs will be the best player on the field for their respective teams. Collins, the Arkansas junior, is on his way to a third straight 1,000-yard season. He's the SEC's third-leading rusher (125.5 ypg). "He's got my vote," Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling said, "because he is one physical man." Tennessee's Hurd, only a sophomore, surpassed the 100-yard mark three times in four games and enters the game sixth in the SEC in rushing (100.5 ypg). "He's hard to tackle right now," Vols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. "What he's been able to do to run through guys or make guys miss has been outstanding. He's a guy you like to have the ball in his hands, because you know he's going to do something with it." With heavy rains in the forecast, Hurd and Collins, who lead the SEC in carries with 86 apiece, should continue to get heavy workloads.

ONE TO WATCH

Big things were expected for Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett after the explosive way he finished last season. In the last seven games of his freshman season, Barnett recorded 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Through four games this season, however, the sophomore has just 22 tackles, 2.5 for loss and one sack. Those numbers mirror the first four games of 2014, when he had 19 tackles, three for loss and no sacks. With pass-rushing partner Curt Maggitt relegated to cheerleader status with a hip injury, Barnett is garnering a little more attention from opposing offenses. He's too good of a player to be held down for long, so the break-out game could be coming soon. "Derek's that kind of young man that he's very self-motivated, very critical of himself, but he doesn't show a lot emotion," Stripling said. "I think inside he's churning. I think right now he understands the situation that he's not playing at the level he's capable of playing."

photo In this Aug. 26, 2015, photo, Tennessee coach Butch Jones talks with players including Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett (9) during practice in Knoxville, Tenn. Defensive lineman Shy Tuttle is at left. Derek Barnett aned Curt Maggitt make No. 25 Tennessee the only Football Bowl Subdivision program to return two players who posted double-digit sack totals last season. (Saul Young/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)

IN THE END

Tennessee's blown two-score fourth-quarter leads twice in the past three games. Arkansas coughed up a 21-13 lead late and lost in overtime to Texas A&M last week to fall to 0-9 in one-score games under third-coach Bret Bielema. What could go wrong? This is a desperation game for both teams. The expected rain will make avoiding turnovers trickier. Tennessee ought to be able to move the ball on the ground against an Arkansas defense allowing 6.5 yards per play. The Razorbacks lead the SEC in rushing defense, but Texas Tech carved them up for 171 yards. The Red Raiders are 48th nationally in rushing and the Vols are 18th. If Tennessee can stop the run enough to get Arkansas behinds the chains and keep the Hogs from chewing up chunks of grass and clock, the Vols should bounce back from last week's collapse. If not, it'll only get uglier in Knoxville.

PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 31, ARKANSAS 21

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