FOOTBALL 2022: Sixth Week

 For Texas A&M, this season is starting to swirl around the drain and prospects for a quick turnaround aren't in sight. The Aggies (3-2) will be on the road against Alabama (5-0) as a 24-point underdog. The game will be on CBS at 7:00 PM, and since I usually stop watching A&M games after the team gets more than 14 points behind, I don't expect I'll be in the viewing audience past the middle of the second quarter.

Last year, Jimbo did some bold talking about giving Nick Saban a butt-kicking, then beat Alabama at Kyle Field with a field goal on the final play. That 41-38 loss spoiled what otherwise might have been a perfect record for the Tide. If Saban's in a position to pour it on, I expect him to be merciless. 

Jimbo lost at least six of the best players on his 2021 team, but the worst loss was the departure of Mike Elko, one of the best DC's in college football, who became head coach at Duke. The guy Jimbo hired to replace him lacks Elko's ability. 

If every lucky break in the game goes A&M's way, and they play almost flawlessly on offense, defense and special teams, the Aggies might go home with a 4-2 record and a fresh outlook for the 2022 season. College Football News predicts the Aggies will put up a fight and cover the spread in a 38-16 loss. That seems reasonable unless A&M returns to the sloppy ineptitude shown at Mississippi State last week, which would probably produce a 40-point blowout.

Update 8:46 PM Saturday: The A&M offense turned two Alabama fumbles forced and recovered by the Aggie defense into two touchdowns, and a 14-14 tie in the second quarter. Alabama got a field goal after King's poor pass was intercepted, making the halftime score 17-14. I guess I'll be around for at least part of the third quarter after all.

Final update 10:35 PM: It came down to the last 00:03 in the 4th quarter, A&M behind 24-20 with a first down at the Alabumma 2-yard line, and Haynes King threw his last incomplete pass of the evening. The tide never got ahead by 14 points and give A&M a ton of help with three turnovers and two missed FG attempts. I watched the whole game, and the Aggies had a real chance to win and couldn't pull it off. Enjoy being 3-3, guys.