Another Saturday of SEC games coming up, and Texas A&M is in the 2:30 showcase game on CBS as an 11.5 point underdog at Alabama. Based on the games played so far, it looks like Alabama, Missouri and Louisiana State are about as beatable as they're ever gonna be. All three have sustained an upset loss or an unexpected beatdown. Normally, I would consider the vulnerability those three have shown as an advantage for A&M, but in 2014, the Aggies have been going from bad to worse every week. In every game, they've looked less competent than they did the week before.
A&M opened the season with a blowout win at South Carolina, and played a nearly perfect game (offense, defense, special teams). The Aggies played sloppy football in three consecutive games against cupcakes, but got away with it based on sheer talent. Against the Razorbacks, sloppy execution almost led to disaster, but Arkansas missed a late FG attempt and allowed the Aggies just enough breathing room to escape with an OT win. Then came Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The ass-whipping at Starkville was bad, but the ass-whipping at home by Ole Miss was even worse -- possibly as rotten a performance overall as anything I've seen since the Franchione years, and definitely the worst of Sumlin's A&M tenure.
So it really doesn't matter if the Tide, Mizzou and LSU are showing weaknesses, because the Aggies aren't showing any signs they have what it takes to exploit those weaknesses. College Football News expects Alabama to cover the spread with a 45-31 thumping.
Other potentially interesting SEC games, and the CFN predictions:
Added 3:30 PM Saturday: Abuse and domination. Alabama is ahead 17-0 in the second quarter, and the Aggies are being outclassed in every aspect, especially coaching. I don't see any signs that the Aggies were prepared for this game. Bama, moving the ball up and down the field, just broke another long run for an easy TD. The lead is now 24-0 with about 11 minutes left in the first half. This game is probably settled, since Bama has about as many points as A&M has yards of offense.
Added 4:04 PM: Alabama is better than Texas A&M, but the Aggies have quit, making the Tide look better than they are. Alabama has scored on EVERY possession in the first half, and leads 38-0. I didn't think it was possible for A&M to stink worse than they did against Ole Miss last week, but I was wrong. Alabama has 38 points, the Aggies have 30 total yards, and in College Station, heads need to roll starting tomorrow.
In the Big Dumpster Fire, Oklahoma lost 31-30 against Kansas State, thanks to a pair of missed FGs. Baylor was dumped from the unbeaten ranks 41-27 by West Virginia.
Added 4:18 PM: The halftime score is 45-0. Alabama has scored on every possession, and unless Saban decides to be merciful and call off his dogs, this looks like a game that could easily end 70-0.
Added 5:20 PM: It's 52-0 at the end of the third quarter. Saban must have started feeling sorry for us, but there's still enough time to pass the 60 point mark since the A&M defense is offering only minimal resistance. We're seeing Sumlin's butter defense, with the Tide offense being the proverbial hot knife.
Added 6:10 PM: Final score 59-0, which is totally unacceptable. Last A&M shutout was the infamous 77-0 loss at OU in Franchione's first season.
A&M opened the season with a blowout win at South Carolina, and played a nearly perfect game (offense, defense, special teams). The Aggies played sloppy football in three consecutive games against cupcakes, but got away with it based on sheer talent. Against the Razorbacks, sloppy execution almost led to disaster, but Arkansas missed a late FG attempt and allowed the Aggies just enough breathing room to escape with an OT win. Then came Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The ass-whipping at Starkville was bad, but the ass-whipping at home by Ole Miss was even worse -- possibly as rotten a performance overall as anything I've seen since the Franchione years, and definitely the worst of Sumlin's A&M tenure.
So it really doesn't matter if the Tide, Mizzou and LSU are showing weaknesses, because the Aggies aren't showing any signs they have what it takes to exploit those weaknesses. College Football News expects Alabama to cover the spread with a 45-31 thumping.
Other potentially interesting SEC games, and the CFN predictions:
- Tennessee at Ole Miss (favored by 13.5 points). Rebels cover 27-13.
- Missouri at Florida (favored by 5.5 points). The Gators win a close one 24-20.
- Georgia (favored by 3.5 points) at Arkansas: The Razorbacks win a 27-24 upset.
- Kentucky at LSU (favored by 9.5 points). Kentucky (5-1) loses 26-20.
Added 3:30 PM Saturday: Abuse and domination. Alabama is ahead 17-0 in the second quarter, and the Aggies are being outclassed in every aspect, especially coaching. I don't see any signs that the Aggies were prepared for this game. Bama, moving the ball up and down the field, just broke another long run for an easy TD. The lead is now 24-0 with about 11 minutes left in the first half. This game is probably settled, since Bama has about as many points as A&M has yards of offense.
Added 4:04 PM: Alabama is better than Texas A&M, but the Aggies have quit, making the Tide look better than they are. Alabama has scored on EVERY possession in the first half, and leads 38-0. I didn't think it was possible for A&M to stink worse than they did against Ole Miss last week, but I was wrong. Alabama has 38 points, the Aggies have 30 total yards, and in College Station, heads need to roll starting tomorrow.
In the Big Dumpster Fire, Oklahoma lost 31-30 against Kansas State, thanks to a pair of missed FGs. Baylor was dumped from the unbeaten ranks 41-27 by West Virginia.
Added 4:18 PM: The halftime score is 45-0. Alabama has scored on every possession, and unless Saban decides to be merciful and call off his dogs, this looks like a game that could easily end 70-0.
Added 5:20 PM: It's 52-0 at the end of the third quarter. Saban must have started feeling sorry for us, but there's still enough time to pass the 60 point mark since the A&M defense is offering only minimal resistance. We're seeing Sumlin's butter defense, with the Tide offense being the proverbial hot knife.
Added 6:10 PM: Final score 59-0, which is totally unacceptable. Last A&M shutout was the infamous 77-0 loss at OU in Franchione's first season.
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