Razorbacks travel to LSU Saturday

LSU will play its final regular season game of the season on Saturday when the 15th-ranked Tigers host Arkansas at 6 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.

The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

For the 14th-consecutive year since its inception, Arkansas and LSU will be playing for "The Golden Boot," a trophy shaped like the two states combined.

The trophy was introduced into the series prior to the 1996 game. It is believed to be the heaviest trophy awarded in a college football rivalry (approx. 175 pounds).

It's also Senior Day for LSU as the Tigers will honor its 24 seniors prior to the contest.

LSU brings an 8-3 overall mark and a 4-3 league record into the game, while the Razorbacks have won four straight and stand at 7-4 overall and 3-4 in conference action.

LSU is coming off a 25-23 loss to Ole Miss last week, while Arkansas beat Mississippi State, 42-21.

After playing on the Friday after Thanksgiving every year since 1996, the LSU-Arkansas game moves to Saturday this year.

This year's game also marks the first time that ESPN will televise the Tigers and the Razorbacks since a 42-24 Arkansas win in Tiger Stadium in 1993.

Currently, Arkansas leads the SEC in scoring offense (38.0), total offense (445.2), passing offense (310.3), touchdowns (51), passing touchdowns (30), opp. fourth down conv. (25.0) and red zone offense (98 pct.). The

Razorbacks have never finished a season leading the SEC in scoring or passing offense.

Quarterback Ryan Mallett has thrown only six interceptions this season and has not thrown one in six of 11 games.

He set a school record with 141 attempts without an interception before throwing one late in the first half against Troy.

Arkansas is first nationally in red zone offense as the Razorbacks have converted on 41-of-42 (98 pct.) trips inside the red zone (32 touchdowns, nine field goals). Arkansas is also tied for 10th nationally and is second in the SEC in red zone defense as it has allowed opponents to convert on only 26-of-36 (72 pct.) trips.

That offense will face off against an LSU defense that is No. 3 in the league in scoring (14.7) and allowing just 322 yards per game.

Arkansas has won the last two games between the teams, including a 31-30 victory a year ago in Little Rock.

LSU goes into this week's game down to its fourth starter at tailback (Stevan Ridley) as Keiland Williams (ankle) was lost for the year against Ole Miss. LSU has lost three tailbacks for the season due to injuries - Williams, Charles Scott (clavicle) and Richard Murphy (knee).

Russell Shepard is LSU's top healthy rusher with 268 yards and a pair of TDs. Jordan Jefferson has thrown for 1,785 yards and 14 scores with Brandon LaFell (48 rec., 635 yards, 9 TDs) and Terrance Toliver (47 rec., 654 yards, 3 TDs) being the top receivers.

Defensively, LSU hasn't allowed a first quarter TD since the Mississippi State game. The Tigers' four linebackers are the top tacklers on the team with Kelvin Sheppard leading the way with 96 tackles, followed by Perry Riley (84), Harry Coleman (68) and Jacob Cutrera (66).

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