FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' tempo and offensive approach have required extensive practice time by Tennessee this week.
The Volunteers are preparing for the type of pro-style offense they haven't faced in three seasons under Coach Butch Jones.
"Your possession are going to be very, very minimal on offense, so it's all about taking advantage of those possessions," Jones said. "This is a game our players have never been in, in terms of the flavor of the game, the style of the game, everything that the game's going to be about, and it's going to be very physical."
Arkansas ranks third in the country in time of possession at nearly 36 minutes per game, and the Razorbacks have punted seven times in four games.
"We're facing a team that's going to push us to have 50, 60 plays max," Vols guard Jashon Robertson told reporters Wednesday. "So we have to be very efficient in the things that we do -- staying ahead of the chains, scoring in the red zone, things of that nature."
Rainy weather?
The weather forecast calls for as much as an inch of rain Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn., followed by bouts of rain throughout the evening and a high temperature of 60 degrees.
Arkansas and Tennessee are set for a 6 p.m. Central kickoff at Neyland Stadium. The forecast projected a 90 percent chance of rain in the mid-afternoon and a 100 percent chance in the evening in eastern Tennessee.
Injury report
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said defensive back Cornelius Floyd, who suffered a hamstring injury in camp, traveled last week and has factored into the game plan this week. Running back Kody Walker, who has not played since he suffered a dislocated thumb against Toledo, is expected to play with a cast against Tennessee.
Defensive back Max Arnold (knee) and receiver Pig Howard (undisclosed) are questionable for the Volunteers, while linebacker Quart'e Sapp is out with a stress fracture in his foot and running back and kickoff returner Ralph David Abernathy IV should be available. Tennessee has lost linebacker Curt Maggitt, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden and offensive lineman Marcus Jackson for extended periods of time.
Throw wide
Tennessee has completed passes to 13 players, but the Volunteers don't have a wide receiver on their roster with 100 receiving yards.
Tight end Ethan Wolf leads the Vols with 11 catches for 126 yards, while the top wideout, 6-3 Josh Malone, has nine receptions for 92 yards.
Coach Butch Jones said the Tennessee attack must better utilize its weapons on the edges.
"You're talking to a former wide receiver coach, so we want to be a receiver-oriented offense and get them the football and the big plays," Jones said.
By contrast, Arkansas has three wide receivers with 150 yards or more, including injured Keon Hatcher and Jared Cornelius, who did it in two games or less, and team leader Drew Morgan (18 catches for 303 yards). The Razorbacks have completed passes to 12 players.
BBQ blues
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he spent a restless night late Saturday with the gut-punch overtime loss to Texas A&M and other noises swirling in his head.
"It was a long journey home, and I don't think we rolled into our place until like 1 a.m.," Bielema said. "Bikes, Blues and Barbecue, I heard motorcycles until like 3 in the morning, as I was laying there in bed, watching dumb movies. I really didn't sleep well."
Morgan notes
Arkansas junior Drew Morgan's 155 receiving yards against Texas A&M last week ranked as the third-most in an SEC game this season and the most for a Razorback since Cobi Hamilton had 177 yards on 11 receptions against Tulsa in 2012. Twelve of Morgan's 18 catches have gone for first downs, and all three of his touchdowns have come in the first halves of games, when he has posted 14 catches for 209 yards.
Road stretch
The Razorbacks have only one road victory in the past three seasons -- 49-21 over Texas Tech last year -- and have not beaten an SEC team in a road game since their 24-7 victory at Auburn on in 2012. Arkansas has lost nine consecutive SEC road games since then.
Skewing young
Tennessee has played 40 true freshmen the past two seasons, an FBS high of 23 in 2014 and 17 this season for the most in the nation during that span.
Arkansas has played 22 true freshmen the past two seasons, including 12 last year. The true freshmen who have played this season are Josh Allen, Damani Carter, Hjalte Froholdt, Dre Greenlaw, Kendrick Jackson, Reid Miller, Ryan Pulley, Zach Rogers, Willie Sykes and Rawleigh Williams III.
Margin down
Arkansas did not force a turnover last week for the second time in three games and fell to even in the turnover margin.
The Razorbacks' defense has three interceptions but it has not forced a fumble. Both Arkansas fumble recoveries came on special teams in the season opener.
Tennessee leads the SEC and is tied for No. 16 in turnover margin at plus 1.25 per game. The Volunteers have recovered three fumbles and intercepted four passes, while their offense has been intercepted once and lost one fumble.
Hogs-Vols
Tennessee leads the series 13-4, including a 6-1 edge in Knoxville, Tenn. The teams have not played in Knoxville since a 34-13 victory by the Volunteers in 2007.
Arkansas won the last meeting 49-7 on Nov. 12, 2011, in Fayetteville.
Return romp
D.J. Dean's 45-yard punt return, which included a block-in-the-back penalty declined by Texas A&M on the final play of the half, boosted Arkansas' average to 25 yards per return. The Razorbacks rank No. 8 in the country and No. 2 in the SEC behind Texas A&M (27.7).
Bowl hole
Arkansas will have to go 4-3 in its remaining SEC games and defeat Tennessee-Martin in its last nonconference game Oct. 31 to have the six victories needed to play in the postseason.
Sports on 10/02/2015