Celebrating the start of fall practice this week, there’s no better time to begin our SEC game-by-game predictions series breaking down each and every contest during the regular season.
We pride ourselves on knowing college football’s most competitive conference as well as anyone and as one reader pointed out this summer using a weighted point system based on accuracy against other preseason prognosticators, our annual ‘Crystal Ball’ ranks among the nation’s most precise.
RELATED: 2015 preseason bowl projections | SDS’ best and worst 2014 predictions
We called a couple big-time upsets last fall including Mississippi’s win over Alabama, but whiffed on South Carolina’s abrupt fall from grace in the East along with Mizzou’s second consecutive division title.
We’re ready for another exciting season of SEC football, aren’t you?
2015 CRYSTAL BALL SERIES
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
2014 Crystal Ball Projection: 7-5, 3-5
2014 Actual: 8-5, 3-5
THE 2015 BATTLEFIELD
Sept. 5 vs. Arizona State, Houston (W): This won’t be an easy opener for the Aggies, but Texas A&M will find a way to hold off the Sun Devils late.
Sept. 12 vs. Ball State (W): The first of what should be multi-touchdown wins for Texas A&M based on talent alone. We may see Kyler Murray come off the bench in mop-up duty.
Sept. 19 vs. Nevada (W): Myles Garrett disrupts the Wolfpack’s uptempo set with multiple sacks — something he’s used to doing against the less-fortunate teams on the Aggies’ schedule.
Sept. 26 vs. Arkansas, Arlington (L): Last year’s game gave us an instant classic. Here’s to hoping it happens again. This time, the Razorbacks return the favor before a matchup of nationally-ranked unbeatens in Knoxville.
Oct. 3 vs. Mississippi State (W): No need for iced-out uniforms this season against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State will be playing from behind throughout in one of the SEC’s highest-scoring games of the year.
Oct. 17 vs. Alabama (L): Kyle Allen would need a Johnny Manziel-esque performance to win this matchup considering what the Crimson Tide did to a handicapped offense last season in Tuscaloosa.
Oct. 24 at Ole Miss (L): Perhaps Texas A&M’s most important ‘swing game’ of the year, a win would potentially vault the Aggies back into the top half of the West conversation heading into the second half of the conference slate. This one’s a toss-up.
Oct. 31 vs. South Carolina (W): Extremely confident in this pick considering the Gamecocks’ road struggles and Texas A&M being in position for a much-needed victory to snap a two-game SEC skid.
Nov. 7 vs. Auburn (L): Can you imagine the environment at Kyle Field if the Tigers come in unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the country? Only then would conditions be right to pick the upset win. If you like offense, tune in.
Nov. 14 vs. Western Carolina (W): The Aggies reach bowl eligibility with an offense-infused romp over the Catamounts.
Nov. 21 at Vanderbilt (W): It’s one step closer toward a second consecutive winless SEC season for the Commodores whose second-half schedule pulls no punches.
Nov. 28 at LSU (L): Without John Chavis, maybe there’s a chink in the Tigers’ armor as far as the Texas A&M offense is concerned? Regardless, LSU has the edge since the game’s in Death Valley.
2015 PROJECTED FINISH: 7-5, 3-5; Sixth in the West
THE LOWDOWN: One of the toughest projections to make in the SEC this fall is Texas A&M, a team with enough talent to win 10 games and one that’s a key turnover or unfortunate injury away from finishing .500. At this time last August, we know where the Aggies would be — crippled by inexperience and a tough schedule, but potentially a factor with several young, impact players. The shine eventually wore off after a 5-0 start. Seven regular-season wins is not the ceiling for this year’s team, but seems like the most likely scenario when weighing all the determining factors equally.
