For an audio preview of tonight’s contest, click here to hear the Gameday Insider with Morning News sports writers Nathan Allen and Ryan Malashock.

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Maybe a trip to The Hump is just what the Arkansas Razorbacks need right now. That might sound a tad crazy to you, because, yes, the Razorbacks haven’t won in Starkville, Miss., since 2000. But little else has worked for the Hogs lately, who enter today’s contest at Mississippi State at 1-6 in the SEC, good for last place in the Western Division.

So maybe a step far out of their comfort zone will somehow benefit John Pelphrey’s Razorbacks. I still contend that Arkansas matches up with Mississippi State better than perhaps any other team in the West. The Hogs are at only a very minor size disadvantage, and their main problem recently has been erratic rebounding.

The Bulldogs ranks last in the SEC in rebounding margin.

If the Razorbacks can neutralize Jarvis Varnado, guard the 3-point shot, make a few of their own and have Courtney Fortson outplay State’s Dee Bost for the first time this season, they have a chance.

Far easier said than done, especially for such a young, inexperienced team.

Arkansas (13-7, 1-6) at Mississippi State (15-7, 5-2)
When: 2:05 p.m.
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Miss.
TV: Raycom/KHOG (Cox channel 7, Cox HD channel 707)
Radio: 107.9-FM, 92.1-FM, 105.3-FM, 1290-AM for those in our readership area
Line: Mississippi State by 7
Series: Arkansas leads 26-20 (Mississippi State leads 15-5 in Starkville)
Last Meeting: Mississippi State beat Arkansas 70-56 on Jan. 10 in Fayetteville

About Mississippi State

There may not be a more surprising team in the SEC this season, other than maybe South Carolina over in the Eastern Division. Rick Stansbury will draw serious league coach of the year consideration if Mississippi State keeps this up.

Despite being less-tested than most teams around the country, the Bulldogs have won five of their first seven conference games, including contests at Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky. Their 70-56 victory at Arkansas on Jan. 10 — the conference-opener for both teams — sparked the hot streak (and sent the Razorbacks spiraling).

The only true blemish on State’s league slate is a surprising home loss to Ole Miss. Varnado, a 6-foot-9 junior, leads the country in blocked shots (4.8 per game), and the Bulldogs play four guards around him, as Arkansas will do today around 6-9 junior Michael Washington.

State nailed 11 3-pointers against the Hogs in Bud Walton Arena and connected on 14 in its upset win Tuesday at Kentucky.

Players To Watch

Arkansas

Courtney Fortson, 5-11, 180-pound freshman point guard

For some reason, it feels like it’s about that time for Fortson to carry Arkansas to a road win. That’s what great point guards do, and Fortson acts like he wants to be put in that category. Fortson has scored in double figures in five of his last six games and has 24 assists and only 10 turnovers in his last three.

Mississippi State

Ravern Johnson, 6-7, 175-pound guard/forward

As one of four State guards in Stansbury’s starting lineup, Johnson is averaging 19.3 points in his past three games. In those three contests, he has made 14 of 24 shots from 3-point range.

Gameday Links

• Here’s my story in today’s Morning News on just how inexperienced the rosters of Arkansas and Mississippi State are. Robbie Neiswanger has the scouting report on Bost, the Bulldogs’ freshman point guard, and here are my keys to Arkansas victory.

• Kyle Veazey of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger writes about the toughness 6-3 Phil Turner brings to the “power forward” position for State. Also, here’s a link to Kyle’s blog.

• The Bulldogs’ recent 3-point binge is the topic of Brad Locke’s story today in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal