STARKVILLE, Miss. — For Arkansas, today’s matchup with Mississippi State goes beyond just a battle to stay out of the SEC West basement. The Razorbacks (4-6, 1-5 SEC ) can inch closer to a bowl berth with a road victory over the Bulldogs (3-7, 1-5 ), who have been eliminated from postseason consideration for the fourth time in five seasons under Sylvester Croom. “This is the life or death of our postseason,” Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs said. The Razorbacks, whom

odds-1 makers call a 1 / 2-point favorite to notch their second road victory of the year, look likely to extend their streak of decent-weather games to 11. The forecast calls for clear skies, virtually no chance for rain and highs in the mid- to upper-50 s in east-central Mississippi.

Arkansas also can extend its streak in the series to 10 consecutive victories over Mississippi State. The Razorbacks have won every game in the series since a debatable field goal call went Mississippi State’s way in a 22-21 Bulldogs victory in 1998.

“There’s no question we want to make it 10,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.

“We haven’t beaten them in a long time,” said Croom, whose teams have lost four games to the Hogs by a cumulative score of 141-76, including last year’s 45-31 shootout in Little Rock. “But what’s happened the last nine years really isn’t going to have an impact on Saturday.”

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The intrigue for an Arkansas team coming off an open date revolves around who will start at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Nathan Dick appeared to inch ahead in the race against his brother Casey, who has started 28 consecutive games, during the off week as the senior recovered from a concussion. The two have split snaps for the past week.

Petrino revealed his decision to the brothers during meetings before the team’s departure from Fayetteville on Friday, but said he would not announce it to the media. However, he indicated Thursday that both quarterbacks probably will play.

The matchup of SEC West cellardwellers pits two of the lowest-scoring teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Razorbacks rank 94 th nationally with 20. 4 points per game, while the Bulldogs are last in the SEC and 116 th of 120 teams with 15. 2 points per game.

Arkansas has scored more than 28 points in a game only once, in a 30-23 victory over a ranked Tulsa team.

“I think it’s going to be a hardfought game,” Petrino said. “I think we’re going to have to do a good job on offense and score points early. And defensively, we’ve got to get back and play real physical, run full speed to the ball and tackle well.”

Mississippi State lost its last shred of bowl hope in last week’s 32-7 loss at BCS No. 1 Alabama, but the Bulldogs claim they’ll be motivated for their final two games.

“It ain’t hard,” tailback Anthony Dixon said. “Me being who I am, I’m a competitor. I’m never trying to get embarrassed when I get out there on the field.”

Croom said the season has been “a struggle from start to finish” for a Mississippi State team that hoped to capitalize on its Liberty Bowl victory from last season and contend in the SEC West for the first time in a decade.

The experts predicted a rough season for Arkansas, and it has not been smooth. But the Razorbacks realize a few plays here and there and they could already have the six victories needed for bowl eligibility and just be fighting for positioning now.

“We know what’s at stake,” junior defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard said. “If we don’t win these two games our season is over with. It’s just like being in the playoffs.”

Luigs said Arkansas’ 28-14 victory at Mississippi State in 2006 was probably the most physical game the Hogs played in that season.

“We had a hard time running the ball,” Luigs said. “They were solid up front. That’s the same way they’re going to be this year.

“ Plus, whenever you go down to Mississippi State, it’s kind of a sleepy atmosphere. It’s tough to get up for those games, but we’re going to have to play our best.”

Arkansas’ open date helped the Hogs enter their final two-game stretch on an injury upswing. Defensive ends Adrian Davis and Damario Ambrose, who both had knee injuries, are expected to contribute today, as should offensive guard Grant Cook (knee ), who missed the past two games.