Consider Texas A&M the poster boys for the wide-open SEC West entering the 2015 season.
With seven teams in the division coming off bowl appearances and four with questions at quarterback, there’s no consensus favorite. There’s barely an agreed-upon pecking order.
Need evidence? Conference media tabbed the Aggies to finish just outside of the cellar in the West this year. But at least one prominent writer has picked Texas A&M to win the conference championship and represent the SEC in the College Football Playoffs.
Consider the prognosticators from the SEC Network somewhere in between. Analysts Jabari Greer and Paul Finebaum — with tie-breaking help from host Dari Nowkhah — settled on an 8-4 record for the Aggies in 2015.
See below for their game-by-game predictions and commentary, beginning with the four games slated as automatic wins for Texas A&M:
- vs. Ball State
- vs. Nevada
- vs. Western Carolina
- at Vanderbilt
Sept. 5 — Arizona State vs. Texas A&M
Predicted result: Win
Greer: “I see a win on that one; a win for Texas A&M against Arizona State.”
Sept. 26 — Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Predicted result: Win
Greer: “This is a big one right here. I am going with Texas A&M to have a four-game winning streak.”
Oct. 3 — Mississippi State at Texas A&M
Predicted result: Win
Greer: “This is the game that’s going to be the issue. I believe that although Mississippi State is losing a lot of people, because of this four-game win streak, I’m not sure Texas A&M can sustain that momentum. I’m going to give them a loss.
Finebaum: “Break the tie. I’m in the win category.”
Nowkhah: “I’m firmly with you on that one.”
Oct. 17 — Alabama at Texas A&M
Predicted result: Loss
Greer: “Listen, Alabama historically loses away from home, away from Bryant-Dennny Stadium, to a lesser opponent. It’s going to be Texas A&M this year. I say Texas A&M beats Alabama at home this year.
Finebaum: “Roll Tide. Up to you Dari. Bama Nation eyes are on you right here.”
Nowkhah: “I think (Alabama) loses twice, but I don’t think this is one of them.”
Oct. 24 — Texas A&M at Ole Miss
Predicted result: Loss
Greer: “I think Texas A&M has a hard time beating Ole Miss on the road. Ole Miss has a great defense, obviously the top scoring defense last year. Texas A&M, high-powered offense, but I give this to Ole Miss.”
Finebaum: “I’m with you on that one.”
Oct. 31 — South Carolina at Texas A&M
Predicted result: Win
Greer: South Carolina’s going to be a good game South Carolina just doesn’t have the depth; they had a hard time playing defense last year. Texas A&M wins this one.
Nov. 7 — Auburn at Texas A&M
Predicted result: Loss
Greer: “Is this the game that (the Aggies) upset a top-10 team, Paul?
Finebaum: “I think it is. I like A&M here.”
Greer: “I say it’s not going to happen. Auburn’s just too strong on the road.
This time around, Nowkhah sides with Greer, tipping the scales in favor of a Texas A&M loss.
Nov. 28 — Texas A&M at LSU
Predicted result: Loss
Finebaum: “Tigers prevail.”
Greer: “I agree with you on that one. LSU wins this one.”
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
