CATCH THEM ... IF YOU CAN
ALABAMA HAS CRUISED THROUGH ITS FIRST THREE GAMES. CAN THE AGGIES KEEP THINGS INTERESTING?
KEYS FOR TEXAS A&M
Ball control: The Aggies have the SEC’s leading rusher, Trayveon Williams, and Alabama is giving up an uncharacteristic 101 yards per game on the ground. Keeping the clock moving and Alabama’s offense on the sideline would be a good strategy.
Get physical: Jimbo Fisher wants to bring toughness and physicality to the Texas A&M program, and this will be a big test for that approach. Not many teams hit Alabama in the mouth. The Aggies need to be stout in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
KEYS FOR ALABAMA
Tua days: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is averaging 215.3 passing yards per play and is playing probably only playing about half a game so far. The Aggies rank 11th in the SEC in pass defense, so the Crimson Tide will probably air it out.
Pressure Mond: Kellen Mond has been terrific for the Aggies at quarterback so far, but Alabama’s defense brings a different challenge. He’s good on his feet, so the Crimson Tide needs to both pressure him and contain him.
PREDICTION
Alabama 28, Texas
A&M 17: Alabama and the Aggies have been putting up video game numbers offensively, both averaging better than 50 points per game. That has to end sometime. A&M took Clemson to the wire a couple of weeks ago, and will be Alabama’s biggest challenge so far.