FAYETTEVILLE — Saying it was an odd game would be like saying Hillary Clinton wants to be president.

Sometimes it was ugly, too.

Not odd and ugly, like the bearded lady or two-headed horse.

Just odd. And at times just ugly.

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For a while, it appeared that Houston Nutt would snap his nine-year jinx as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

For 10 seasons, every time the Razorbacks have suffered their first loss to an SEC opponent, they’ve lost to the next SEC team they faced.

Before Saturday night, that had only happened once in Reynolds Razorback Stadium, and it was there in front of a roaring crowd of more than 74, 000 that Arkansas almost got enough luck to end the jinx.

The difference, though, was Kentucky made halftime adjustments for Reggie Herring’s pass defense and tweaked its defense to put more pressure on Casey Dick. That is what enabled the Wildcats to rally for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to get a 42-29 victory.

After leading most of the first half, the Hogs trailed much of the third quarter until Kentucky quarterback Andre ’ Woodson and tailback Alfonso Smith collided in the end zone for a safety, giving the Hogs a 22-21 lead with 11: 51 to play.

Then, in almost a blink of an eye, it appeared to be over.

Felix Jones took the ensuing kick 82 yards down the left sideline, and 11 seconds after the safety, it was 29-21 and a half that had been nothing close to pretty for the offense suddenly belonged to the home team.

Only, the Wildcats didn’t panic and stuck with the game plan that they had come up with at the half.

On their next possession, the visitors caught a break after missing a 37-yard field goal when a personal foul gave them firstand-goal, and two plays later it was 29-27. The two-point conversion, a quarterback draw, came up a yard short with 7: 59 to play.

Three consecutive Darren McFadden runs up the middle left the Hogs punting, putting the visitors’ hopes on their 32.

After gaining only 8 yards on eight carries in the first half, Kentucky spent almost as much time on the ground in the final half as the Razorbacks, grinding out 162 yards rushing on a defense that was still pressuring for the pass.

After four plays, the Wildcats were on the Hogs’ 45. An 8-yard run and then 5 for an offsides penalty and the old mo had swung.

Flags flew for another offsides, but Woodson took advantage of the free play with a perfect strike to Keenan Burton for the touchdown with 4: 02 to play.

As the Wildcats lined up for the two-point conversion — and a 35-29 lead — Nutt was in deep conversation with McFadden. He returned the kickoff from the end zone to his 25.

McFadden got 2 on the ground and 3 on a reception when he ran into an official. A sack left the Hogs with fourth-and-11 and just more than two minutes to play.

Another incompletion ensured the Wildcats’ victory.

As the game ended, there were more choruses of boos.

What had to be frustrating for Razorbacks fans was after their team had 373 yards of offense in the first half, it had only 122 in the second half.

On a night when McFadden and Jones were slowed a little by the Wildcats and a little more by a virus, the Razorbacks still got 495 total yards, but the offense scored only one touchdown and one field goal.

The Hogs got those 10 points in the second quarter when they amassed an amazing 242 yards of offense, but the Razorbacks ’ defense scored the other touchdown and set up a field goal. Yet, it seemed the shorter the distance to pay dirt, the tougher Kentucky was on the Razorbacks.

The Wildcats came out at the half with enough adjustments to make a chiropractor happy and racked up 304 total yards.

They leave with a perfect record. The Hogs fall to 0-2 in SEC play, but have a couple of nonconference victories up next.