THE HIGH LINE
Undefeated Aggies are No. 6 but still 18- point dogs at No. 1 Alabama
College football has been down this road before, where the overriding question from a national point of view becomes: Will Alabama win the championship or will it be somebody — anybody — else?
The Crimson Tide received 60 of 61 first- place votes in the latest AP Top 25. Oddsmakers have them at approximately 2- to- 1 to repeat as champs. And they’ve been so impressive, and are so respected, that they’re favored Saturday — against an unbeaten, top- 10 opponent — by 18 points. No. 6 Texas A& M at Alabama ( 2: 30 p. m., Ch. 2) could develop into the story of the season if the Aggies ( 6- 0) manage to pull off an upset, and it’s worth noting that each of Nick Saban’s last three national- title teams has lost a conference game along the way. What has to happen for the Aggies to win?
It starts with Kevin Sumlin’s ground game, which to this point has been nearly unstoppable. Led by terrific freshman running back Trayveon Williams, the Aggies have the SEC’s No. 1 rushing offense. Not surprisingly, Alabama ( 7- 0) has the nation’s top run defense. It’s a matchup A& M must win to have a shot.
Aggies defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hill — perhaps the best pass- rush duo in the land — have to be even more disruptive than Alabama’s pass rush, which has produced a national- best 27 sacks.
Another thing: As hard as it is to do against Alabama, the Aggies have to hold their own in the turnover battle. They have 17 takeaways — a huge number — so far. But Alabama’s touchdown-scoring ways are insane; the Tide defense already has scored eight times, to go with a trio of specialteams TDs.
“There are a lot of important things for us to do well in the game,” Saban said, “and it’s going to take all phases doing well to have a chance to be successful.” To have a chance? Please. By the way, Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight used to play for Oklahoma and had the game of his life against Alabama. Knight, then a redshirt freshman, capped the 2013 season in the Sugar Bowl by throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns in a 14- point victory over the Tide. So you know he won’t be afraid of this challenge. But he won’t win again. Bama by 14.
The SEC West also has the only other Top- 25 matchups of Week 8: No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn ( 5 p. m., ESPN) and No. 23 Ole Miss at No. 25 LSU ( 8 p. m., ESPN).
Want someone to root for? Try Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams, who’ll see the Tigers ( 4- 2) for the first time since sustaining a terrifying neck injury on a facemask in last year’s meeting. Auburn — favored by 10 — has the better defense by far, but the Hogs ( 5- 2) can put up points on anybody. Tigers win, Hogs cover.
Five losses combined — and one coach fired — for Ole Miss and LSU? That’s nuts. But the Tigers have all the momentum
after winning by blowout in Ed Orgeron’s first two games in place of Les Miles. It’s much easier to win when football is fun. LSU covers the 5 ½ .
No. 2 Ohio State at Penn State ( 7 p. m., Ch. 7) just sounds like a big game, doesn’t it? Yet the 4- 2 Nittany Lions — 19 ½ - point underdogs at home to the big, bad Buckeyes ( 6- 0) — are 0- 7 under coach James Franklin against Big Ten East rivals Michigan, Michigan State and OSU. And the Nits are on an 0- for- 9 streak against top- five opponents.
“We’re going to need the fans. We’re going to need the alumni. We’re going to need everybody,” Franklin said. “This is a tremendous challenge that we’re facing all together, and we’re going to need the stadium to be the most difficult environment in the history of college football come Saturday night.” Inspiring stuff. Buckeyes by 24. Here’s the thing about No. 10
Wisconsin at Iowa ( 11 a. m., ESPN): The Badgers ( 4- 2) clearly are the better team, but how much will they have for the Hawkeyes ( 5- 2) after back- to- back tough, one- score losses to Michigan and Ohio State? At least they should be motivated in a rivalry meeting for the Heartland Trophy, currently in Iowa’s possession.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to get it back,” UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook said.
Brutal schedule for the Badgers, who fall in another close one. MY FAVORITE FAVORITE: No. 12 West Virginia (- 5) vs. TCU ( 2: 30 p. m., ESPN2). Not even an extra week of preparation saves the Horned Frogs. WVU is playing too well.
MY FAVORITE UNDERDOG: Kentucky (+ 3) vs. Mississippi State ( 6: 30 p. m., SEC). Dan Mullen’s team shouldn’t be favored against anybody right now. Last week: 5- 2 straight- up, 6- 1 vs. the spread. Season to date: 38- 18 straightup; 30- 24- 2 vs. the spread.