Scouting Report: Arkansas

• Record: 3-8 (0-7 SEC)
• Best Wins: 34-14 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
• Worst Losses: 28-24 at Rutgers
• Offensive Leaders: QB Brandon Allen (109 of 229, 46 percent, 1,374 yards, 11 TDs, 9 interceptions), RB Alex Collins (179 attempts for 998 yards, 4 TDs), RB Jonathan Williams (137 attempts for 842 yards, 4 TDs)
• Defensive Leaders: DE Chris Smith (8.5 sacks), S Alan Turner (86 tackles, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups)
• 2012 Record: 4-8, 2-6 SEC West (6th)
• 2012 Postseason: None
• 2012 Starters Returning: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense)
• Green Spots: Everywhere? Arkansas starts six true freshmen. Both of its offensive guards are true freshman and so is the middle linebacker.
• Program rumblings: Arkansas dropped a program-worst eighth straight game with an overtime loss to Mississippi State on Saturday. Coach Brett Bielema’s first year is a sour one. The Razorbacks blew an early 10-point lead and lost to the Bulldogs for the first time in the state of Arkansas since joining the SEC in 1992.

The Offense: What You Don’t Wanna Hear

Arkansas RB Alex Collins is one of the best freshman tailbacks in the nation, most believe. (USA Today)

• Tailback duo: Arkansas struggles offensively (as you’ll read more about below), but the Hogs’ one strength is that they have a pair of near-1,000-yard runners. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams have combined for 1,840 of UA’s 2,322 rushing yards this season. The pair split the rushing attempts with Collins holding the edge. Arkansas leans hard on them. The Razorbacks throw the ball just 24 times a game – and that includes a whole lotta blowouts. Arkansas averages 211 rushing yards a game, fifth in the SEC, and Collins is running for 90 yards a game, sixth in the league. You remember Collins’ signing fiasco, right? Relive it.

The Offense: What You Do Wanna Hear

• Air trouble: Arkansas is a one-dimensional offense. The Hogs can’t throw the ball. It’s rough. QB Brandon Allen, a sophomore, is completing less than half of his passes. He’s thrown for just 1,374 yards, or 137 yards a game. Arkansas’ 145-yard average a game passing is the worst in the SEC and its 5.9-yard per-pass average is second-worst in the SEC. Just one team, Auburn, has attempted fewer passes this season. Allen, according to a tweet from a teammate, had his truck egged after the loss to Mississippi State.

• Coughing it up: Arkansas has the worst turnover margin in the league at -9. The Razorbacks have turned it over 21 times, second-worst in the conference. That includes a league-high 11 fumbles and 10 interceptions. The Hogs had three turnovers in a collapse against Mississippi State on Saturday.

The Defense: What You Don’t Wanna Hear

• QB Heat: Like its offense, Arkansas struggles overall defensively, but the one bright spot for the Hogs has been their pressure on the quarterback. Arkansas is third in the league with 25 sacks. The Razorbacks are led by defensive end Chris Smith’s 8.5 sacks. Smith, a 6-3, 270-pound senior, is rated by nfldraftscout.com as the third-best defensive end in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Defense: What You Do Wanna Hear

• Passing on the D: The Hogs have a hard time stopping the pass. They’ve allowed 24 passing TDs, second-worst in the SEC and only ahead of the Tigers’ last opponent, Texas A&M. Arkansas starts a true and redshirt freshman in the secondary. The Razorbacks rank 13th in the league in pass defense efficiency. Opponents complete more than 65 percent of their passes.

Special Team Nuggets

• Arkansas has returned fewer punts (8) than any SEC team.
• Kicker Zach Hocker is 11 of 13 and has made all 25 of his PATs.

The Spread

• LSU -24.5 (as of Sunday)