FAYETTEVILLE -- Two teams in desperate need of a conference win clash on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium when the University of Arkansas hosts struggling Auburn and besieged Coach Hugh Freeze.
The betting line for the game between Auburn and Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC) began as essentially a pick-em, but the Tigers (3-4, 0-4) were given a slight nod as the favorite on Monday.
Interim Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino talked about Freeze, Cam Newton, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and his connections to all the above during a wide-ranging news conference on Monday.
The Razorbacks have lost five games in a row and four of them have been by one score. Under Petrino's watch, the Hogs have a pair of three-point losses at current No. 17 Tennessee (34-31) and No. 3 Texas A&M (45-42) the last couple of weeks.
"If we could get one of those fourth-down stops, or we hold them to a field goal instead of a touchdown in the red zone, then we've got a chance to win the game," Petrino said of Saturday's home loss to the Aggies. "But we're right there."
Auburn's four SEC losses have been by a combined 26 points, three of them by one score, including last week's 23-16, double-overtime loss to Missouri.
Freeze, speaking after the home loss late Saturday, was asked if he and his staff were the right group to continue leading the program.
"I know we're close and I know we'll get it over the hump," Freeze said. "No one hurts for these incredible fans more than me and our staff. We're close, but I know that people are tired of hearing that because I'm tired of saying it, and I'm tired of feeling it.
"But I do know that anyone that looks ... this stretch of games was against four really, really good teams that we had a chance to win all of them. At some point, they're going to start going our way."
Fired Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said similar things at points over the last few years, and he wasn't wrong, with the proof being in the Razorbacks' 7-21 record in one-score games since 2020.
The outcome on Saturday will go in the favor of one of the struggling programs.
Petrino was asked what it would take to get over the hump for a breakthrough win.
"I try not to think all the way back to some of those games where you feel like you should have walked off the field with the win and just concentrating on what we're doing now," he said. "But what we need to do now is be a little bit more consistent driving the ball and scoring touchdowns when we get in the red zone.
"When we have to settle for a field goal and take three points, I think it really hurts our opportunity to win the game. We've got to come up with some of the third-down and fourth-down stops that could flip the game right there and give us that chance to go score and get another possession and find a way to win the game."
Another issue has been takeaways.
The Razorbacks, who snagged five takeaways each in road wins at Auburn and Mississippi State last season, have none in four games against Power Four opponents this year.
"We've got to get some turnovers," Petrino said. "We haven't had a turnover in, as the young kids say, we haven't had a turnover in a minute. ... Feels like a year. We've got to get some turnovers. Get some turnovers, and we'll be a lot better."
Petrino was offensive coordinator at Auburn for one season in 2002 between a stint as offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and his first head coaching job at Louisville (2003-06).
"I had a great time there as an assistant coach and working for, is he a senator now? Tuberville?" Petrino said. "It was a lot of fun and enjoyed it. But I think it's going to be a good football game and we've got to find a way to win."
Petrino complimented Auburn's defensive efforts this season under Durkin, who was in the same role at Texas A&M from 2022-23, overlapping the last season with Petrino on Coach Jimbo Fisher's staff.
"Very familiar with their defense," Petrino said. "They're very, very well-coached. We went against that defense every day in practice before. They do a great job in their schemes. It's going to be a great challenge for our offense."
Asked for his take on the series between the former SEC West programs and reminded of his 3-1 record versus the Tigers, Petrino brought up the 2010 game, a 65-43 Auburn home win. Newton, who was en route to winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Tigers to the BCS national championship, had 328 total yards and four touchdowns in the game.
Arkansas lost quarterback Ryan Mallett to concussion protocols and Tyler Wilson came off the bench to pass for 332 yards and four touchdowns as the Hogs out-gained Auburn 566-470 in total offense.
"I do remember the game there, though, when Tyler came off the bench and threw for, I don't know, maybe 400 yards or 300-something yards, and we couldn't tackle Cam," Petrino said. "We just couldn't tackle him. He was so big and strong and physical. It was going back and forth like a tennis match and was a lot of fun."
Arkansas led 43-37 early in the fourth quarter after Wilson's 23-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs before the Tigers scored the final four touchdowns, one on a controversial 47-yard fumble return.