Can the third time be the charm for Texas A&M? After showing competing early but ultimately falling short against two of the top three teams in the SEC, Texas A&M has one more shot to make a statement in its first year in the league, and this time it’s against the conference’s current big dog.
Saturday afternoon the Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the country’s top-ranked team and the defending national champion. The game marks the end of a challenging gauntlet for Texas A&M that will have seen it face four ranked opponents in five weeks, but such is life when competing in the SEC.
The strengths of both teams will be on display, as the Crimson Tide enter the game ranked second in the nation in total defense, while Texas A&M has the country’s fifth-best offense. Alabama also enters the contest coming off of an emotionally draining thriller at LSU which left quarterback AJ McCarron crying on the team’s bench after the game. Was so much effort and emotion expended in that contest to leave the Tide vulnerable to the A&M offensive attack?
Alabama can wrap up a berth in the SEC Championship Game by defeating either Texas A&M or Auburn. However, Texas A&M is the only other SEC West team remaining that can mathematically play for the SEC championship. It would have to beat Alabama and Missouri and have the Crimson Tide lose to Auburn to end the regular season.
While that scenario is highly unlikely (Alabama can name the score against Auburn), an A&M upset this weekend would cap off a wildly successful first season in the league. For that to happen, the Aggies will have to prove it can operate its dynamic offense for a full 60 minutes against a quality foe. Against Florida and LSU, representing A&M’s only losses and two of the best defenses in the country, the Aggies piled up a combined 466 yards and 29 points in the first half, but limped to the finish line with just 247 yards and seven points in the second half. Needless to say, a complete performance will be needed against the Crimson Tide. And a Bama hangover would also be helpful.
Game Info:
#15 TEXAS A&M vs #1 ALABAMA
SAT. NOV. 10 – 2:30PM / CBS
BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM