(AP) -- As good as things looked for LSU six weeks ago, coach Les Miles goes into the regular-season finale unable to clean up the mess that has followed.

In contention for the national title not too long ago, the 17th-ranked Tigers try to rebound from their third loss in six games - one that included a series of gaffes - when they host surging Arkansas on Saturday night.

The Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC) opened the season with five consecutive wins to climb as high as fourth in the AP poll before losing 13-3 to top-ranked Florida on Oct. 10. They recovered to rout Auburn and Tulane before falling 24-15 at then-No. 3 Alabama on Nov. 7, but struggled to beat woeful Louisiana Tech 24-16 and were dealt a big blow last Saturday. (MORE)