COLLEGEFOOTBALLNEWS.COM'S ARKANSAS AND AUBURN PICK

[hogginuplittlerock]

Auburn (4-1) at Arkansas (2-3) 7 pm ET 

Why to watch: After the opening day loss to Georgia Tech, Auburn has been beating up on bad team after bad team getting better and better while fattening up its record. With all due respect to Arkansas, Ole Miss and Kentucky, it's a three game season for the tigers with at LSU, at Georgia and Alabama ahead, so the goal is to keep improving as the top sleeper in the SEC race. The defense has been outstanding allowing 24 points over the last four games, but now it gets a bit more of a test against a Hog team looking for its first SEC win. Last week's 44-15 win over UL Monroe was nice, but a win over Auburn would get it back in the mix for the a bowl game.

Why Auburn might win: The defense might not have been playing against anyone lately, but it's still a killer that should be able to keep the Arkansas ground game in check. The Hogs have one of the worst passing games in the nation needing to run to win, but the Tigers are only allowing 108 yards per game. Even Georgia Tech's talented backfield only managed 139 yards against the Tigers. On the other side, Auburn shouldn't have a problem running against an Arkansas run defense allowing 181 yards per outing.

Why Arkansas might win: There's that little matter of Auburn still having not beaten anyone of note, and this is the team's first road game of the year. For the first time since the Georgia Tech game, QB Brandon Cox will be pressured by a Hog defense that has ten sacks and 37 quarterback pressures so far. He only has a half a year of experience and he'll have to not only deal with the D, but also the hostile environment. The Auburn running game has been good, but it only managed 118 yards on the ground against Mississippi State and should have a few problems getting going unless ...

Who to watch: ... redshirt freshman Brad Lester keeps progressing. Quickly growing into one of Auburn's newest offensive weapons, Lester gets the starting nod this week after rushing for 252 yards and five touchdowns over the first four games. He'll have to counterbalance the Arkansas freshman duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, who each ran for over 100 yards last week against UL Monroe. The Hogs are loaded with backs with De'Arrius Howard is still in the mix as well.

What will happen: Auburn won't have a walk in the park, but the defense will get the job done by keeping the Hogs to under 200 yards rushing, and around 150 yards through the air.

CFN Prediction: Auburn 27 ... Arkansas 14 ... Line: Auburn -7 | Make your pick and compete against others 

Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 Freddie) ... 3

[Buff]

150 through the air?  are we getting that much better?

[hogfan98]

150 through the air? are we getting that much better?

I think he was including the punt yardage...lol.

now that's funny.

[TulsaHogFan]

And accurate, thats the sad part.