Here’s everything you need to know about Louisiana-Monroe at Texas A&M.

When: Today
Where: College Station, Texas
Game Time: Noon ET
TV: SEC Network
Current Line: Texas A&M (-34.5)

Game Buzz: The Aggies haven’t won a football game since Sept. 27, and probably should’ve lost that game against Arkansas. Texas A&M could use an old-fashioned whipping, but more importantly, the team must figure out whether true freshman Kyle Allen can operate the offense effectively. What once was the most potent unit in the NCAA this season languished against Ole Miss before an embarrassing shutout at Alabama. Which quarterback is the right one to lead the team through its final three SEC games in 2014?

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

LOUISIANA-MONROE WARHAWKS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Pete Thomas
  • WR Ajalen Holley
  • WR Kenzee Jackson
  • S Mitch Lane
  • LB Michael Johnson
  • LB Hunter Kissinger

Keys For Louisiana-Monroe:

  • Force Kyle Allen into early mistakes. The Aggies have a tendency to start slowly in first quarters this season. Allen, a true freshman who has never started a game, will be nervous and prone to errors, but offensive coordinator Jake Spavital will try to dial up some easy throws and rely on A&M’s physical receivers to block Louisiana-Monroe’s undersized defensive backs. The Warhawks have no chance to stay close unless it can produce takeaways, and that means forcing third-and-long early in the game.
  • Dink and dunk. Call it the Rice plan. Problem is, the Warhawks offensive line hasn’t protected Thomas, who is pretty immobile as a signal-caller. The team ranks 121st in the country in scoring offense. But Thomas should get rid of the ball quickly, find hot routes and let the receivers rack up 5 yards at a time. A&M’s defense gives up yards to just about anyone with the right execution.
  • Blitz, blitz, blitz. Louisiana-Monroe plays an unusual 3-3 defensive front that allows the team to deploy exotic blitzes often, which the team should do against a struggling A&M offensive line and an inexperienced quarterback.

Glaring weakness to watch: The offensive line. Myles Garrett and company are going to give this group fits.

Most interesting part of the game: Whether Holley and Jackson can have another solid game. They combined for 12 catches, more than 140 yards and two touchdowns against Kentucky.

Team buzz: Louisiana-Monroe isn’t intimidated by the SEC logo. The Warhawks (3-4, 2-2) already have played LSU and Kentucky, and led the Wildcats, 14-3, after the first quarter. But the group has been underwhelming in Conference USA, features a sluggish offense and is far outgunned in this one.

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Players To Watch:

  • QB Kyle Allen
  • WR Malcome Kennedy
  • LT Cedric Ogbuehi
  • DE Myles Garrett
  • CB Deshazor Everett
  • LB Justin Bass

Keys For Texas A&M:

  • Dominate physically. The Aggies got crushed in 1-on-1 matchups going back to the overtime win against Arkansas. But Texas A&M is bigger and stronger than Louisiana-Monroe. It’s time to get some pride back and inject a tougher mindset.
  • Figure out the quarterback position. Allen will start, but the real question is who will start the final three SEC games, and what about the future? It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kenny Hill for at least a portion of this game, and we all saw what happened to LSU when Brandon Harris took his first start against Auburn, A&M’s next opponent. Will Allen show enough today to be the guy next week?
  • Find leaders. Which players are going to step up their production? Who is going to stand up in the locker room and say, ‘This junk stops here?’ Tim Tebow questioned Florida’s offensive leadership recently, but it just as easily could have been Johnny Manziel regarding the Aggies.

Glaring weakness to watch: Tackling.

Most interesting part of the game: Garrett should have an excellent chance to break Jadeveon Clowney’s NCAA freshman sack record. It would represent a rare positive headline for the A&M defense.

Team buzz: A&M’s stock is way down from late September, as the Aggies held a No. 6 ranking in the Associated Press poll for several weeks. The perception of this team isn’t going to change even with a blowout win Saturday. But securing some confidence and returning to the basics would do this program good right now.