Saturday’s game between South Carolina and Texas A&M features a pair of coaches who have crossed paths quite often in the past 20 years.

Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher is 5-1 in his career against the Gamecocks’ Will Muschamp. They met for 4 years in the Florida-Florida State rivalry game, and now they’ve faced each other every year since Fisher took over as A&M’s coach in 2o18. The latest edition takes place at 7 p.m. ET at Williams-Brice Stadium.

However, they didn’t start as foes. Fisher and Muschamp developed a friendship while working together at LSU under Nick Saban from 2001-04. Fisher worked as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and Muschamp spent a season as the linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator.

Their familiarity adds an exciting element to the game, though Fisher said in his Monday press conference that he doesn’t usually look forward to matchups like these.

“I love competing, and no matter who you compete against, you do it,” he said. “But this business is so tough and rough because at the end of the day, one of you isn’t gonna feel good. You’d hate it to be anybody you have very good friendships with. Will and I go way, way back, and I always look at him as a friend.”

Is this the season Muschamp finally repays Fisher for all the losses over the years?

That would be a pretty bold prediction considering the status of both teams entering the game. No. 7 Texas A&M (4-1) has won 3 straight and looked better each week following a loss to Alabama. It has been a mixed bag for the Gamecocks (2-3), who are coming off a 52-24 drubbing against LSU.

As of Wednesday, the Aggies were 10-point favorites.

But this is a road game for them, which could mean slightly greater chance of a loss. The South Carolina defense has been up and down; before the meltdown last week, it held lowly Vanderbilt to 7 points. And the Gamecocks matched the Aggies in holding Florida to their fewest points of the season. (Granted, 38 is still a lot, but it’s the Gators.)

The Gamecocks have a pair of potential NFL cornerbacks in Israel Mukuamu and Jaycee Horn. Mukuamu entered the season as a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, according to Todd McShay, and the 2 are tied for the team lead in interceptions with 2.

Horn leads the team in passes defended and has seen his stock rise since his performance against Auburn.

It will be a tough matchup for the Aggies’ receivers, but quarterback Kellen Mond has looked more and more composed of late. He has 8 passing touchdowns to just 1 interception in the past 3 games. A&M will hope he stays steady in this away contest.

Even if the offense struggles to get going through the air, the Aggies can look to a running game that leads the SEC with 5.3 yards per carry. Isaiah Spiller has been the main man, with at least 18 carries in each of the past 3 games after totaling 19 in the first 2. However, South Carolina can’t forget about Ainias Smith, who has 476 yards from scrimmage this season and serves as the punt returner.

Defensively, A&M will need to slow down running back Kevin Harris, who is 2nd in the SEC with 535 yards and 8 touchdowns. Spiller is 4th in the conference with 512 yards. Harris has scored a touchdown in every game this year and is averaging 2 per contest over the past 3 games.

The Aggies have looked solid on defense over the past few weeks and are allowing only 104.8 yards per game on the ground. However, they did give up a season-high 222 to Arkansas last week.

Ultimately, if South Carolina can force a turnover or 2 and get their running game going, they will have their best shot at winning. But that would be the riskier of two bets.

I like the Aggies to keep rolling, even with the tough defensive matchup. We’ve seen Fisher’s track record against his friend, and all signs point to that trend staying the same. Mond and Spiller are a duo that will prove too tough to contain.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, South Carolina 17