Quarterback
ARKANSAS Austin Allen (185-306-10, 2,501 yards, 20 TDs) is completing 60.5 percent of his passes. His accuracy is 52 percent since spraining his knee at Auburn. Allen has passed for 200-plus yards in 8 games. He is No. 37 in passing yards (250.1), No. 38 in efficiency and tied for No. 30 with 20 TDs. Arkansas is No. 47 in passing (250.4 ypg) and No. 39 in pass efficiency.
MISSISSIPPI STATE The Bulldogs' offense has grown with 6-5, 230-pound Nick Fitzgerald (152-285-10, 1,850 yards, 16 TDs), who has 17 total TDs in the past 5 games. Fitzgerald is No. 5 in SEC total offense (270.4 ypg), No. 8 in SEC passing (185.0 ypg) and No. 10 in efficiency. His running prowess leads to the edge here. The Bulldogs are No. 86 in passing (215.3 ypg) and No. 92 in efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Miss. State
Running backs
ARKANSAS Sophomore Rawleigh Williams (192-1004, 7 TDs) hit the 1,000-yard mark last week. He is No. 3 in the SEC and No. 31 in the FBS with 100.4 rushing yards per game and is tied for No. 19 with 192 carries. Sophomore Devwah Whaley (78-435, 1) averages 5.6 yards per carry. Kendrick Jackson has played well at fullback. Arkansas is No. 82 in rushing (158.7 ypg).
MISSISSIPPI STATE Top tailback Aeris Williams (87-402, 2) has less than half the rushing yardage of QB Nick Fitzgerald (146-854, 8). Ashton Shumpert (51-246, 1) and Brandon Holloway (49-221, 1) might get more carries today vs. Hogs. MSU's QBs Fitzgerald and Damian Williams (19-99, 1) average more per carry than the backs. The Bulldogs are No. 32 in rushing (213.6).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Receivers/Tight ends
ARKANSAS Drew Morgan (49 catches, 519 yards, 3 TDs) leads in catches and yards, Keon Hatcher (31-467, 5) leads in TDs and Dominique Reed (10-196, 2) leads the receivers with 19.6 yards per catch, with Jared Cornelius (27-480, 4, 17.8 ypc) close behind. Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (27-295, 4) has a Senior Bowl invite. Cody Hollister (10-140) and Austin Cantrell (9-75) contribute.
MISSISSIPPI STATE Fred Ross (57-664, 9) roughed up Arkansas last season (10-154, 2) when he was uncoverable all night. Donald Gray (30-587, 4) averages 19.6 yards per catch. At 5-9, Malik Dear (18-201, 1) and 5-8 Keith Mixon (17-199, 2) are smallish but speedsters. Farrod Green (10-108, 1) is the top tight end. Gabe Myles (8-63) adds depth.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Line
ARKANSAS The quintet of LT Dan Skipper, LG Hjalte Froholdt, C Frank Ragnow, RG Johnny Gibson and RT Brian Wallace look set for their third consecutive start together. Creating creases against the Bulldogs' No. 54 run defense is critical for this unit. Froholdt returned from an ankle injury last week. Arkansas is No. 64 in total offense (409.1 ypg) and No. 92 in sacks allowed (2.5).
MISSISSIPPI STATE Three seniors -- LG Devon Desper, C Jamaal Clayborn and RT Justin Senior -- are the stalwarts on a front that averages 6-4, 309 pounds. LT Martinas Rankin, the SEC lineman of the week vs. Texas A&M, and RG Deion Calhoun are the other starters. The Bulldogs are No. 51 in total offense (428.9) and No. 38 in sacks allowed (1.7).
ADVANTAGE Miss. State
DEFENSE
Line
ARKANSAS A lineup twist produced strong results against Florida, but not against the run vs. LSU. Jeremiah Ledbetter (40 tackles, 4 sacks) and JaMichael Winston (10, 1 hurry) are starting at end, Taiwan Johnson (21, 3.5 TFL) and McTelvin Agim (17, 3.5 TFL) at tackle, with Deatrich Wise (38, 3.5 sacks), Austin Capps (10, 1.5 TFL) and Bijhon Jackson (7, 2.5 sacks) in reserve. Tevin Beanum (19) has had a quiet year. Arkansas is No. 103 in run defense (217.6 ypg) and No. 80 in sacks (1.9).
MISSISSIPPI STATE "Viper" end Johnathan Calvin (50, 9 TFL, 5 sacks) has stats across the board, including an INT and 2 forced fumbles. Blue-chip signee Jeffery Simmons (31, 3 TFL) is a backup NT to Nick James (17, 3 hurries). End A.J. Jefferson (28, 10.5 TFL, 4 sacks) is solid. Cory Thomas (21, 3.5 TFL) and Nelson Adams (19, 2.5 sacks) play inside. The Bulldogs are No. 54 in run defense (157.3 ypg) and No. 68 in sacks (2.1).
ADVANTAGE Miss. State
Linebackers
ARKANSAS The Razorbacks have gone with mostly a three-linebacker look the past couple of games, with Brooks Ellis (69, 5 TFL) and Dwayne Eugene (32, 2 hurries) joined by versatile Randy Ramsey (18, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks), whose strongside spot should see at least some duty today. The unit did not scrape and fill well last week and has struggled vs. running quarterbacks. Arkansas is No. 77 in total defense (421.2).
MISSISSIPPI STATE Richie Brown (82, 4 TFL, 3 hurries) is having a big season. Leo Lewis (64, 3 TFL) leads all SEC freshmen in tackles and starts on the weak side, and J.T. Gray (57, 5.5 TFL, 2 hurries) starts at the "Star" spot. DeAndre Ward (46, 4 TFL), Gerri Green (32, 1 PBU) and Dez Harris (29) are top backups. Mississippi State is No. 84 in total defense (434.6 ypg).
ADVANTAGE Even
Secondary
ARKANSAS It's been up and down at safety, where Josh Liddell (51, 2 TFL, 2 INTs), Santos Ramirez (37, 2 PBU, 1 INT) and De'Andre Coley (28, 2 FF, 2 FR) have played a ton. Coley is expected back after getting knocked out last week. Corners Henre Toliver (33, 6 PBU, 2 INTs), Ryan Pulley (33, 10 PBU, 1 INT) and Jared Collins (19, 6 PBU) have been solid. Arkansas is No. 36 against the pass (203.6 ypg) and No. 35 in pass efficiency.
MISSISSIPPI STATE SS Brandon Bryant (47, 1 INT, 2 PBU) is touted as having sub-4.3 speed. Mark McLaurin (41, 2 INTs, 4 PBU) plays both safety spots, while Kivon Coman (32, 2 INTs) came back from injury against A&M. The top corners are Jamoral Graham (23, 2 INTs) and Cedric Jiles (21, 1 PBU), with Lashard Durr (21) and Chris Rayford (20) in reserve. The Bulldogs are No. 116 against the pass (277.3) and No. 99 in pass efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Special teams
ARKANSAS Punter Toby Baker, whose 44.5-yard average is No. 17 in the FBS, has been the highlight. The Hogs are No. 12 in net punting (41.4). Senior Adam McFain is 6 of 6 on field goals. The return units have taken a step back in 2016. Arkansas is No. 90 in touchback percentage (.296) and No. 78 in kick coverage (21.4 avg.).
MISSISSIPPI STATE Punter Logan Cooke is No. 89 in the FBS with a 39.8 average, and the Bulldogs are No. 108 in net punting (35.0). Kicker Westin Graves is 10 of 17 on FGs and made a 47-yard try last week at Alabama. KOR Brandon Holloway had a season-best 50-yard return at Alabama. Fred Ross averages 5.6 yards per punt return.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Intangibles
ARKANSAS went 3-1 in SEC road games last season, but its only true SEC road appearance this season was a 53-point loss at Auburn. The Hogs have a 45-24 loss in Arlington, Texas, against Texas A&M, too. The Razorbacks haven't won at Mississippi State since 2010. They have alternated wins and losses the past eight games, and if that pattern holds this is a "win" week.
MISSISSIPPI STATE has to win to keep its bowl hopes alive, which is a tremendous motivator on senior night. Dan Mullen has won four in a row in the series. The winner keeps its feet out of the SEC West cellar, while the loser could be in sole possession of last.
ADVANTAGE Miss. State
Sports on 11/19/2016