FOOTBALL 2021: COVID Version Week 10

 After a much-needed off week, Texas A&M enters the toughest part of the 2021 regular season schedule, with three of the final four games against Auburn, at Ole Miss, and at LSU. I can see A&M losing all three games, but they're probably capable of winning all three if they achieve the level of team efficiency they displayed against Alabama. 

Tomorrow's game matches two teams with 6-2 records in the SEC showcase game at 2:30 PM on CBS. The Aggies are a 4.5 point favorite at home. However - since joining the SEC West, the Aggies are 4-5 against Auburn, and even worse, Auburn has won all four games played at Kyle Field. All four A&M wins came in road games. I'm superstitious, so I consider that a bad omen for tomorrow.

Auburn's quarterback is having a better year than A&M's quarterback is having, but maybe Calzada will be sharper with an additional week of preparation. He's been mediocre in the second halves of wins over Missouri and South Carolina, and that would spell trouble against an opponent as strong as Auburn.

College Football News predicts the A&M defense and rushing offense will be enough to produce a tough 28-23 win. I'd prefer to watch A&M win by four touchdowns, but I'll take any win they can pull off.

Update 4:05 PM Saturday: Unless you love games dominated by hard-nosed, hard-charging defenses, this one is dull as dishwater. The score is tied 3-3 at the half. So far, I'd say A&M's defense is playing a little better overall than Auburn's because Auburn has a better quarterback, one who can run and pass. Auburn's defense gets the benefit of playing against Zach Calzada, who can't or won't run, and throws one incomplete pass after another. The Aggie D may have to score for A&M to have a chance to win this pissing contest.

Final update 6:10 PM Saturday: I went back to watch the second half thinking that A&M would probably need its defense to score a touchdown to win. As it turned out, the Aggie defense returned a recovered fumble for a quick score, and A&M went from a 9-3 lead to a 17-3 lead, and finished with a 20-3 victory. It's been a long time since A&M had a defense that could win games for them. One down, two to go.