The stars appear to be aligning for the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies as they head into Week 9. Under Mike Elko, the Aggies remain undefeated with a record of 7-0 overall and 4-0 in SEC play, following a 45-42 victory against Arkansas in their second road game of the season.
Meanwhile, the LSU Tigers have seen their ranking slip after suffering another road loss to Vanderbilt, bringing their overall record to 5-2 and their conference record to 2-2 as they prepare for a crucial matchup back home in Baton Rouge.
According to ESPN’s FPI predictor, momentum slightly favors Texas A&M heading into this contest. Playing at Death Valley is notoriously challenging, and pressure is mounting for LSU. However, the Aggies hold a slight edge with a predicted win probability of 51.9%, per FPI.
While Texas A&M’s defense faced challenges against Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, it was the Aggies’ offense that shone brightly, amassing nearly 500 yards and scoring on all but two drives. Quarterback Marcel Reed delivered an impressive performance with 280 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and one rushing touchdown.
LSU’s offense is beginning to find its rhythm as it seeks a clearer identity. The Tigers averaged 6.6 yards per play against Vanderbilt and have continued to strengthen defensively, allowing only 14.6 points per game. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will aim to exploit weaknesses in Texas A&M’s defense, which has shown inconsistency and ranks 55th in EPA per play. Notably, last week’s game against Vanderbilt marked the first time this season that LSU scored more than 20 points against a power-conference opponent.
As both teams strive to maintain their momentum in this heated SEC showdown, kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET from Baton Rouge.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
