Here's how effectively Arkansas defensed 20 thranked Auburn last Saturday in Auburn, Ala.

Had Arkansas' offense and special teams not done more giftwrapping than a department store nearing Christmas, the Razorbacks might have pitched a shutout.

All 22 Auburn points in Arkansas' 25-22 SEC victory, including of course the final two directly on an intentional safety, were set up by Arkansas turning it over offensively or turning it over or getting gashed in the kicking game.

Auburn's first touchdown was Tristan Davis' 97-yard kick return. Its other touchdown, a 3-yard run, stemmed from a short field after Arkansas' Dennis Johnson fumbled away a kickoff return at the Arkansas 24. Auburn's two field goals were initiated after long Auburn returns of the two interceptions thrown by Arkansas senior quarterback Casey Dick. Include Arkansas' goal-line stand to force Auburn out of downs at the Arkansas 4 and eventually take the intentional safety. Throw in three interceptions, including safety Matt Harris' game-sealer with 29 seconds left, and you've got a defensive masterpiece. A masterpiece painted by a defense that didn't look capable of even coloring by the numbers prior to Saturday, struggling to defend versus lightweights Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe And that was before Arkansas got blown away by national powers Alabama, Texas and Florida. Now, let it be said Auburn's offense was a step down from the Hogs' last three games. Alabama has a huge, veteran offensive line and a solid senior quarterback. Texas sports the atest Heisman Trophy quarterback frontrunner, Colt McCoy, in triumph over deposed No. 1 Oklahoma last Saturday in Dallas.

Florida is quarterbacked by 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow. Tebow dismantled reigning national champion LSU Saturday night. Inconsistent Auburn quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd struggle to find their identity as does the entire Auburn offense. Tommy Tuberville's Tigers are minus their fired offensive coordinator since last Wednesday. Like a rudderless ship they list betwixt and between the power running game they used to run and the Spread offense they sought to adopt but failed to adapt. Well, that's Auburn's problem. All a defense can do is defend against what's presented. Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson's crew not only defended what was presented but defended with presence. Led by defensive end Adrian Davis, the Hog D at last became the hammer instead of the nail, Robinson's objective from Day 1. Offensive coaches from Kentucky, next up for Arkansas in Saturday's 6 p.m. (CDT ) ESPNU televised SEC game in Lexington, Ky., will look on this Hog defense with respect other staffs have had to profess to have but likely didn't believe. While the Hog offense and special teams almost gave it away like another business bailout, Arkansas still doesn't beat Auburn without them.

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Shay Haddock's two field goals, the second no chip shot from 44, and Davis' punting 4 for a 52 yard average plus a 67-yarder on his post-safety free kick, were essential.

Last but certainly not least, Arkansas' offense dominated an Auburn defense still considered among the nation's best.

The run-pass balance Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has craved manifested with 228 yards passing and 188 yards rushing, including a McFaddenesque performance by little fourth-year junior tailback Michael Smith.

As highly recruited as Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, his same recruiting class All-American former Razorback teammates now starring a year early in the NFL, the 5-7, 173-pound Smith showed amazing resiliency with 35 carries for 176 yards against an Auburn defense as tough as they come.

Most amazing, the more Smith was pounded - and Auburn pounded him hard - the better he got. Smith stunned the Tigers by twice slipping through them two at a time during his fourthquarter 63-yard touchdown run that put Arkansas up for good.

You wouldn't have known it as Tigers fell off and away from him, but Smith ran his TD in agony.

" I cramped halfway through it, " Smith said. " Both legs. "

Badly as Smith's legs felt cramped, it was nothing compared to how Smith cramped Auburn's defensive style, the only semblance of style Auburn has left.

Nate Allen covers the Razorbacks for the Northwest Arkansas Times.