For the first time, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M all play each other this fall in the SEC. If one were to bet on a team emerging as 2-0 from those games, the Crimson Tide and Volunteers would be the popular picks. Sporting News college football writer Bill Bender, however, warns against sleeping on the Aggies. Could TAMU catch both their highly ranked foes looking between rivalry games?
Texas A&M is the only SEC team to make two of Bender’s trap game selections for the top 20 teams in Sporting News’ preseason poll:
- No 20 Georgia at South Carolina
- No. 13 Tennessee at Texas A&M
- No. 12 LSU at Auburn
- No. 7 Ole Miss at Arkansas
- No. 1 Alabama vs. Texas A&M
In the Oct. 8 meeting between Tennessee and Texas A&M, Bender expects the Volunteers could be looking ahead:
Two certainties in Knoxville: Tennessee faces its highest expectations in years, and its schedule is front-loaded. Of the Volunteers’ first four SEC games, its matchup against Texas A&M will likely not get as much hype as showdowns with Florida, Georgia and Alabama. But it’s a dangerous road game the week before the Volunteers see the Crimson Tide.
When the Aggies face the Crimson Tide on Oct. 22, could Alabama be experiencing a hangover from The Third Saturday in October?
Alabama won the last meeting in Tuscaloosa 59-0, but it’s that spot in the schedule that makes it interesting. The Aggies come in after the Tide faces Tennessee, and before the bye week leading up to the LSU game. Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight also knows a thing or two about how to beat Alabama.
Do you think any of the above top 20 teams will be caught stuck in the previous week or looking ahead this season?
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
