Tennessee next test for surprising Razorbacks

Saturday, November 11th 2006, 4:10 pm

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK (AP) Houston Nutt says he's a little surprised at how much his Arkansas team has improved. He says he didn't expect Arkansas to be 8-1 at this stage of the season, leading the Southeastern Conference's West Division.

But there they are, and the 11th ranked Razorbacks face a familiar nemesis Saturday night, #12 Tennessee.

Arkansas needs only 2 wins in its last 3 games to advance to the SEC title game, and the Hogs figure to be favored next week at Mississippi State. Their final game, the day after Thanksgiving, is at Little Rock against LSU.

Arkansas has won 8 straight for the first time since 1998, when the Razorbacks started 8-0 in Nutt's first season. That run ended with an excruciating 28-24 loss at eventual national champion Tennessee. This time, the Volunteers come to Arkansas, bringing a 7-2 record and the hard feelings of being knocked out of the SEC title picture last weekend when they lost to LSU 28-24 on a last-minute touchdown.

Kickoff for Saturday nights is at 6 p.m. in Fayetteville.