Giving no quarter

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas and LSU are on a collision course for an old-fashioned, between-the-tackles slugfest tonight.

There's no snow is in the forecast, but it will be plenty cold when two of the nation's top running teams meet at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The National Weather Service is predicting 32 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a 5 mph wind out of the south, suitable conditions

for Arkansas (4-5, 0-5 SEC), which is trying to shed a 17-game conference-losing streak against the No. 17 Tigers (7-3, 3-3).

Arkansas ranks 16th nationally at 248 rushing yards per game with top tailbacks Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins running behind the biggest offensive line in America.

LSU counters with a strong offensive front propelling top backs Leonard Fournette, Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard to 221 rushing yards per game, which ranks 27th nationally.

"The way we run the ball, the way they run the ball, it's going to be a three-hour mental drill," Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said. "The TV station might not like it because it might be over a lot quicker than the allotted time."

"I think we're both suited, I would guess, for a game with what could be the possibility of really bad weather," LSU Coach Les Miles said earlier this week. "So yeah, it might end up being 50 runs a team. You'll have to strap it on and go play. It'll be a physical brand of football."

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said his offense has the ability to run formations utilizing eight or even nine linemen.

"One of the reasons we go with this type of offense is you can play in all weather," Bielema said. "You can play in dry with 100-plus degrees. Or it can play wet, with freezing temperatures. You'll adjust as the game goes on according to the weather, if that's a factor.

"The good news is our guys have played in it in the past and we get a chance to rep in it this week."

LSU is the seventh consecutive ranked opponent the Razorbacks have faced in SEC play, dating to last year's meeting against No. 15 LSU.

Arkansas has been on the brink of ending its SEC losing skid, which is tied for the seventh longest ever in the SEC. The Razorbacks' near misses have included two overtime losses, a 14-13 loss to current No. 5 Alabama and fourth-quarter flops in losses to LSU by scores of 20-13 and 31-27.

The Razorbacks held a late lead last year in Baton Rouge, when freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings directed a 99-yard touchdown drive that included his 21-yard scramble to midfield and his 49-yard touchdown pass to Travin Dural for the go-ahead score with 1:15 remaining.

"Yeah, that was pretty heartbreaking," said Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith, who wasn't with the Hogs last year. "I had a chance to watch that film, and it's certainly on our mind."

Former Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones, a hero in the Hogs' Miracle on Markham victory over LSU at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in 2002, will serve as the team's honorary captain.

The Arkansas coaching staff has gone out of its way to discuss how a loud crowd might disrupt audibles and other calls at the line of scrimmage for Jennings and the Tigers.

"When teams are doing a lot of checking, you hope that the fans come out and the crowd is real loud so they can't communicate," linebackers coach Randy Shannon said.

The game will be played on its earliest date since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992 after the conference paired LSU with SEC newcomer Texas A&M on Thanksgiving weekend rather than the Razorbacks.

It has long been speculated that LSU pushed to replace Arkansas with A&M, but the Tigers have never admitted as much.

"I want you to know there's never been that thought in my mind," Miles said when asked if he viewed the Aggies as a bigger rival. "The Arkansas game has always been a very, very competitive game from start to finish. ... No, I didn't see, nor do I see that there's any greater rival than the Arkansas team."

The Tigers lead the nation in pass efficiency defense, with 9 interceptions and 8 touchdowns allowed, 48.5 percent opponent completions and 163.5 yards allowed per game.

"They cover you on the perimeter, they're fast on the perimeter, their linebackers are headhunters that will rip your head off," Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said.

The Razorbacks might have to lean on their ground game, even though LSU is also stout against the run.

"I give them credit when credit is due," Arkansas tailback Alex Collins said of LSU. "They're a good run defense. They come up field and they shoot gaps. We've just got to prepare and hit them right in the mouth."

Williams ranks fourth in the SEC with 877 rushing yards; Collins is fifth with 840 and Fournette is 10th with 736.

"Their offensive line does a great job of covering you up," Smith said. "They're a really good group up front and that only makes a talented group of running backs that much better. They're committed to run the football and they stick with it."

Jennings, Arkansas' defensive backs coach, said the Hogs will have their hands full because LSU does a great job running the ball.

"On the flip side of it, their guys have to get ready to tackle our backs, too," Jennings said.

LSU has kept control of the Golden Boot Trophy the past three seasons, making this game a last chance for Arkansas' seniors to possess it.

"Just to be able to go and take away something from somebody else, that's big time," Arkansas senior captain Trey Flowers said. "That gives you a lot of pride. Coach just mentioned the fans deserve it, the whole Razorback nation would be excited. It would be big time."

Sports on 11/15/2014