Louisiana Tech (4-6) at Arkansas (5-5), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Arkansas by 22.

Series Record: Arkansas leads 4-0.

What is at stake

Arkansas can clinch a winning record and bowl eligibility with a win over Louisiana Tech. The Razorbacks have finished over .500 just twice since 2017, both times under current coach Sam Pittman. A loss to the Bulldogs would cast serious doubt on his chances of returning for a sixth season. A win would likely bolster his case for at least one more year, regardless of how Arkansas finishes in its regular-season finale against Missouri.

Key matching

Arkansas’ offense against Louisiana Tech’s defense. After the Razorbacks’ struggles offensively last week against Texas and Louisiana Tech’s high ranking defensively, the matchup is worth noting. Arkansas managed just 231 yards against the Longhorns’ No. 1-ranked unit. While the Bulldogs aren’t an SEC-caliber team in the mix for a national title, they do have the nation’s No. 12 defense. They held North Carolina State to fewer than 400 yards earlier in the season.

Players to watch

Louisiana Tech: Freshman quarterback Evan Bullock is the biggest reason the Bulldogs have flirted with .500. He’s not yet a game changer, but the former three-star recruit has been effective since taking over the starting job in Week 4. The Bulldogs are 3-3 since then, and Bullock has thrown 12 touchdown passes and two interceptions during that time. stretch.

Arkansas: Defensive end Landon Jackson is on track for a breakout performance. The All-SEC selection for the season leads the team with 5 1/2 sacks and is second with 7 1/2 tackles for loss, but both totals are off last season’s pace.

Facts and figures

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie has faced Arkansas twice before. He was the offensive coordinator at TCU in 2016 and 2017, when the teams split their meetings. … A week before Arkansas beat TCU in overtime in 2016, the Razorbacks beat Louisiana Tech 21-20 — the last meeting between the two schools. … Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson returned last week against Texas after missing the previous three weeks with a leg injury. He ranks third in the SEC in rushing touchdowns with 10 and fifth in rushing yards per game with 88.

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