It’s the game of the season in the SEC: No. 1 Alabama hosts No. 6 Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Only nobody is giving the Aggies a chance in this top 10 matchup. Alabama opened as a 17-point favorite in this one after a thorough 49-10 thrashing of a Tennessee team that took Texas A&M to double overtime the previous week in College Station.

Here’s a closer look at how these two teams match up head-to-head:

WHEN TEXAS A&M HAS THE BALL

Trevor Knight vs. Alabama pass defense: Knight has benefited from OC Noel Mazzone’s run-oriented offense, balancing it out with a passing game that ranks fourth in the SEC, averaging 258.5 yards per game. But he hasn’t faced a secondary like the one Alabama employs. Tide DBs Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison have wreaked havoc on opposing passers this season, combining for seven interceptions already this season, returning an SEC-best four for touchdowns.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

As a team, the Tide ranks sixth in the SEC against the pass, allowing an average of 210.1 yards per game. Knight should be able to move the ball through the air on Saturday. Keeping those passes out of the hands of Alabama defenders will be the key.

EDGE: Texas A&M

Texas A&M running backs vs. Alabama run defense: It’s strength vs. strength. Texas A&M leads the SEC and is seventh in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 274.3 yards per game. Trayveon Williams leads the conference, averaging 117.3 yards per game and is ninth in the country with an 8.6 yards per carry average. Alabama leads the nation in rush defense, allowing just 63.9 yards per outing. But that stat becomes a little less impressive when you consider that the four SEC teams it has faced rank seventh (Kentucky), ninth (Arkansas), 11th (Tennessee) and 12th (Ole Miss) in the conference in rushing offense. If the Aggies are able to run the ball and stay balanced on offense, this game could get interesting.

EDGE: Texas A&M

Texas A&M receivers vs. Alabama pass defense: Josh Reynolds and Christian Kirk are among the top receiving duos in the SEC. Throw in a healthy Ricky Seals-Jones, and nobody can touch that trio. But Seals-Jones has missed the last two games and his status for Saturday is being kept under wraps, as is his injured ankle. He’s had an extra week to rest it, and the Aggies will need all hands on deck for what looks like a shootout on Saturday against a talented and aggressive Alabama secondary. But if healthy, the Tide will have its hands full with the best trio of receivers in the SEC.

EDGE: Texas A&M

WHEN ALABAMA HAS THE BALL

Jalen Hurts vs. Texas A&M pass defense: This talented freshman has matured right before our eyes and should improve on his numbers against the worst pass defense in the SEC. The Aggies are giving up an average of 278.2 yards per game through the air. That’s 30 yards more than Kentucky, the second-worst pass defense in the conference.

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Hurts could, and should, have a field day on Saturday as the Tide attempts to run up the score on its visitors. Hurts is sixth in the conference, averaging 197.9 yards per game. He should have no problem surpassing that figure on Saturday, provided the offensive line can keep bookend sack artists Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall at bay.

EDGE: Alabama

Alabama running backs vs. Texas A&M run defense: The Tide is second in the SEC behind Texas A&M in rushing offense, averaging 265.7 yards per game. The Aggies’ rushing defense, while improved, still has some things to clean up. They rank seventh in the conference, yielding an average of 159.3 yards per contest. Damien Harris should be provided running lanes with which to operate from, which will also be key in preventing the Aggies from pressuring Hurts and the Alabama passing attack.

EDGE: Alabama

Alabama receivers vs. Texas A&M secondary: Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart can’t be covered, although talented DBs Justin Evans and Armani Watts will do their best on Saturday. Throw in tight end O.J. Howard, and it becomes nearly impossible to stay with all the weapons Hurts has to throw to. It’s a tall task to hold down the Alabama passing game, which averages 239 yards per game. Texas A&M hasn’t been very successful in that area, giving up 402 passing yards to Tennessee in its last game.

EDGE: Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

This is usually an area in which Texas A&M has excelled. But the Aggies haven’t been as dazzling this season. It’s been Alabama that has lit up the key category. The Tide has already returned three punts for touchdowns and lead the SEC in averaging nearly 20 yards per punt return. The Tide average an SEC-best 51 yards per game in that department, 20 yards more than second-place Tennessee. In addition, Alabama punter JK Scott is third in the conference, averaging 47 yards per boot.

EDGE: Alabama