In one of the most anticipated football seasons in a long time, the Aggies are now only 2 days from kickoff. Expectations are understandably high. Here are 10 bold predictions for the upcoming season and how they’ll shape Year 2 of the Jimbo Fisher era.

No. 1: The Aggies will win more than 8 regular-season games

That might not sound like much of a bold prediction on the surface. But consider this: First, Texas A&M has not won more than 8 regular-season games since 2012, its first season in the SEC, and has only accomplished the feat 3 times since 1998. Second, with road games at Clemson, Georgia and LSU, coupled with a home game against Alabama, winning more than 8 regular season games seems nearly impossible.

But the Aggies take care of business in the other 8 games this season, then pull an upset in at least 1 of those 4 matchups.

No. 2: Jalen Wydermyer starts at TE

At the beginning of spring camp, the 6-5, 260-pound freshman wasn’t even on the radar. He was the “other guy” in Texas A&M’s recruiting class of 2019 tight ends. All eyes were on 5-star Baylor Cupp, and with good reason. Cupp was rated the No. 1 TE in the nation. But Cupp’s recent injury (broken ankle) sounds pretty serious and possibly season-ending.

Sophomore Glenn Beal was the projected starter with Cupp seeing plenty of action as well, a 1a/1b situation if you will. But in Wydermyer, Fisher gets what he wants out of the position, a big, strong blocker who can also catch the football. Wydermyer hauled in 42 passes, 10 for touchdowns, in his senior year of high school.

Now it appears as though it’s Wydermyer and Beal who are the 1a/1b combination moving forward.

No. 3: Colton Prater starts at C

Not the boldest of predictions, but despite his experience the senior was being touted as a starter at guard (and still might end up there) as well as a backup at center to Ryan McCollum. Both can play guard and don’t be surprised to see some shuffling that puts each at that position during the season.

But McCollum has been dinged by injuries and the undersized but feisty Prater is taking advantage of the opportunity.

No. 4: Aggies will play in 3 or more OT games

The Aggies have participated in at least 1 overtime game in each of the past 5 seasons. They played in 2 last season. It was the 2nd time in 3 years that they were taken to overtime twice in the same season.

Texas A&M has not played in 3 OT games in the same season since 2004. The Aggies went 2-1 in those games. With a schedule that includes Clemson, South Carolina and Georgia, in addition to the gauntlet that is the SEC West, look for the Aggies to be embroiled in several close games and at least 3 that go to overtime.

No. 5: No 1,000-yard rusher, but 3,000-plus accumulatively

For the 5th time in 11 seasons, the Aggies will not have a 1,000-yard rusher. It’s not because they don’t have an RB talented enough to accomplish the feat. But rather, because they have too many RBs talented enough to accomplish the feat.

Whether it’s projected starter Jashaun Corbin, or Jacob Kibodi, or UCF transfer Cordarrian Richardson, or true freshman Isaiah Spiller carrying the ball, all possess the tools to be that guy. But there’s only one football. So while the RB group is solid, look for all 4 to get their chances with each carrying 50 times or more and surpassing 3,000 yards for the first time since 2012.

No. 6: Leading receiver catches fewer than 10 TDs

Like with the RB situation, the Aggies have a plethora of talent at WR. Only once since 2013 has the Aggies’ leading receiver caught fewer than 10 TD passes in a season — that was the 2015 season when Christian Kirk led the team with 7. And in that season, 8 receivers caught TD passes.

The quartet of stellar junior receivers — Quartney Davis, Camron Buckley, Jhamon Ausbon and Kendrick Rogers — will all catch multiple TD passes in 2019, but none will exceed double digits.

No. 7: Kellen Mond throws for fewer than 3,000 yards

That’s not to say Mond will regress. On the contrary, under Fisher’s tutelage, the junior QB will only get wiser and more efficient. In a conference that has gradually gone away from the hard-nosed running style and into a new era of wide-open offense, Mond was 1 of 6 SEC QBs to surpass the 3,000-yard mark (3,107) in passing last season.

But with an improving offensive line and a stable of solid RBs, look for the Aggies to be more productive on the ground than through the air.

No. 8: Connor Blumrick or James Foster transfer

Don’t know how bold this prediction is, but it’s a simple numbers game. The 2 sophomore backup QBs will have a decision to make at the end of the season, maybe sooner. Two factors will weigh heavily on their collective decisions. The first is whether Mond returns for a senior season. If he does, there’s a decent chance that both seek playing time elsewhere.

Add to that the emerging arm of true freshman Zach Calzada and the decision might be made for the two sophomore backups.

No. 9: Kenyon Green is most impactful freshman

Following in the footsteps of Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel, outstanding Aggies linemen who started as freshmen, Green is taking his place in that impressive line. The 6-4, 330-pound 5-star recruit has opened eyes and put smiles on the faces of his coaches since arriving on campus and will win the starting job at guard.

No. 10: Aggies make New Year’s 6 bowl

Texas A&M has not played in a New Year’s bowl game since 2012 and has earned New Year’s bowl invitations just 3 times since 1999. The Aggies break through this season with a major bowl bid and a real opportunity for a double-digit win season since that 2012 Cotton Bowl victory (41-13) over Oklahoma.