LSU vs. Texas A&M: Prediction and preview

LSU looks to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive while Texas A&M hopes to end a miserable season on a high note in Week 13 at 7 p.m. Eastern time Saturday on ESPN.

LSU vs. Texas A&M preview

Truth is, Texas A&M stopped playing what we know as football about a month ago.

The Aggies, of course, started the season with an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State after being heralded by some as a Playoff candidate. Still, Jimbo Fisher’s squad soldiered onward, downing an equally disappointing Miami team and scraping by Arkansas in the final minutes. Any team doing that has be be at least partially locked in. Stuff hit the fan a short time later.

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The Aggies lost to Mississippi State, dropped a close one to Alabama then got stunned by South Carolina in Columbia. Since then, you wouldn’t guess that team had all the talent it has on the roster. Texas A&M is 1-6 since beating Arkansas all the way back in September.

The Aggies are out of bowl contention because of it, the only SEC team out as of Week 13. And their opponent this week makes it highly unlikely that they even reach 5 wins.

LSU has been playing some of the best football of any team in the nation since a lopsided 40-13 loss to Tennessee in early October. The Tigers have won 5 straight since then, scoring wins over Alabama and Ole Miss in the process. They have a backdoor route to the Playoff at 11-2 if they can knock off the Aggies and do the same to the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game.

A major reason why has been the excellent play of Jayden Daniels under center. Daniels was especially timid to throw the ball at the beginning of the season – and he still shows some hesitancy – but the Arizona State transfer has become much more aggressive in his play style and it has paid off tremendously.

Perhaps his most impressive attribute has been his ability to avoid costly turnovers, even while being more aggressive as of late. He has thrown for just 2 interceptions this season with 15 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns.

That’s better than Texas A&M can say. The Aggies’ quarterback situation has been a mess all season, seeing Haynes King struggle as well as Max Johnson following an injury that derailed his season. Conner Weigman has stepped in and played as well as you can in relief, throwing for 728 yards, 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions as a freshman.

And who can forget Weigman’s worst nightmare for Saturday, Harold Perkins? The freshman linebacker has been a terror for every team in the SEC, dominating against Arkansas despite having the flu pregame. That’s the stuff of legends. And his story is far from over.

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Perkins has totaled 57 tackes, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception this season. He leads the team in sacks and is tied for 2nd in total tackles. Once again, as a freshman.

LSU vs. Texas A&M prediction

This one has the makings of a massacre.

Never, ever assume in college football. Tennessee learned that the hard way last week on its quest for a College Football Playoff berth. Kelly’s Tigers squad cannot afford to overlook the Aggies, no matter how dire their situation seems.

But the Tigers are just too much right now and playing for something big, while Texas A&M has looked nothing short of dejected and broken for the better part of a month. Things may get ugly in College Station.

Prediction: LSU 41, Texas A&M 14