Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
By Hunt Palmer
Teams trending in different directions meet on Saturday night.
Texas A&M is off to its first 7-0 start since joining the SEC, and LSU is teetering on the brink with a pair of losses before Halloween for a team that generated a load of preseason hype.
These head coaches know each other well. Mike Elko coordinated Brian Kelly’s defense at Notre Dame before leaving to run Jimbo Fisher’s group in Aggieland.
The teams have met every year since 2012, and the home team has won every game since 2016.
A Texas A&M win on Saturday night inches the Aggies closer to their first ever SEC Championship Game and shakes LSU’s program to its core with a third loss. An LSU win infuses some life into a stunned team entering the bye and hangs a first loss on the Aggies.
Here are three matchups that could swing the game either way.
TEXAS A&M’S WIDE RECEIVERS VS. LSU’S CORNERBACKS
This is good on good.
Mansoor Delane is playing at an All-American level right now, and PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett are coming on as first year starters being baptized by fire opposite Delane.
Across the line of scrimmage this week may be the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the SEC. Elko dipped into the portal for KC Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State), and he hit.
Craver leads the SEC in receiving yards and yards per catch. He’s got blazing speed. Concepcion is second in the league in touchdown catches with six. He’s plenty fast, but he’s lightning quick.
Teams have avoided Delane for a month. It will be interesting to see if Aggie offensive coordinator Collin Klein does the same. Perhaps he and quarterback Marcel Reed decide to be aggressive and trust their guys even on Delane.
A&M loves to hit explosive pass plays. They’re second in the SEC in yards per attempt and third in 20-plus yard catches. Meanwhile LSU is fifth best in the SEC in 20-plus yard passes given up and fourth in yards per attempt allowed and completion percentage allowed.
Both units are considered a strength, and they’ll battle for four quarters Saturday.
TEXAS A&M’S DEFENSIVE ENDS VS. LSU’S OFFENSIVE TACKLES
This is just too obvious not to be a key to the game.
Cashius Howell leads the SEC with 7.5 sacks, and Dayon Hayes has 3.5 on his side. LSU will start DJ Chester and Weston Davis at tackle, and both have struggled mightily this season.
This edge rush is part of the reason Texas A&M is second in the nation in third down defense. LSU’s third down offense has taken a huge step back this year.
There is only so much help LSU can give its tackles. Tight ends and backs have to be involved in the passing game, too. They can’t just chip and stay in all night.
LSU’s best method here is likely to stay ahead of the chains to slow the rush a little bit.
Garrett Nussmeier is playing a little bit tentative at times because the front has faltered more this year. LSU must hold its own with a tough pass rush.
LSU VS. TIGER STADIUM CROWD
This one feels odd, doesn’t it?
But I think it’s true. This is a cranky fan base. I’m not sure what the crowd will look like on Saturday, but LSU is going to need to inject some life into it.
The Tigers are the worst team in the SEC in terms of first half scoring. They average 9.3 points per first half which is 110th of 136 in the FBS. If the Aggies get a couple of early stops and go up 10-0 or 14-0, it’s going to be a sad scene in that stadium. Texas A&M is 12th nationally in first half scoring.
Conversely, if LSU can throw an early punch, we know the Tiger Stadium crowd can make a difference.
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