Position-by-position edge: Texas A&M vs. Tennessee
From the looks of it, we’re getting what seems to be a top 10 matchup with evenly matched teams on Saturday in College Station.
Tennessee will be ranked at No. 9 in the nation, while host Texas A&M is one spot higher in the AP Poll and just two places higher in the Coaches Poll. The showdown of unbeatens could go a long way in determining who makes it to Atlanta.
Tennessee’s formula of starting slow and finishing fast has worked so far. Texas A&M is winning with a combination of balanced offense and improved defense, especially against the run.
Here’s how this pivotal SEC game shapes up head-to-head:
WHEN TENNESSEE HAS THE BALL
Joshua Dobbs vs. Texas A&M pass defense: The Aggies have flipped the script defensively this season. Last year, they couldn’t stop the run. This season, they’re fifth in the SEC against the run, but it’s the pass that the Aggies are having trouble defending. Part of that is because they have the lead in most games and opposing teams are trying to catch up. But numbers don’t lie. The Aggies are giving up an average of 253.4 passing yards per game. Only Kentucky (269.4) gives up more. Dobbs is fifth in the SEC, averaging 207 passing yards per game.
EDGE: Tennessee
Tennessee running backs vs. Texas A&M run defense: Here’s where the Aggies have made their biggest improvement over last year. They’ve allowed just 134.8 yards per game over the first five games of the 2016 season. That’s about 80 yards fewer than last season, when they ranked 13th in the SEC. Coincidentally, Tennessee’s two top rushers — Jalen Hurd and Dobbs — together average exactly 134.8 yards per game.
EDGE: Texas A&M
Tennessee receivers vs. Texas A&M pass defense: Josh Malone and Jauan Jennings will be tested by the Aggies’ secondary, which includes perhaps the best safety duo in the conference in Armani Watts and Justin Evans. The Vols are only 10th in the SEC in passing offense, but the Aggies are 13th against the pass.
EDGE: Tennessee
WHEN TEXAS A&M HAS THE BALL
Trevor Knight vs. Tennessee pass defense: Knight is second in the SEC in passing attempts (181) and has thrown only three interceptions. That’s going to be the key on Saturday. If Knight can continue to take care of the football, good things will happen for Texas A&M. Knight is third in the SEC in passing, averaging 252.2 yards per game. The Vols are sixth in the SEC in pass defense, allowing an average of 211.8 yards per game.
EDGE: Texas A&M
Texas A&M running backs vs. Tennessee run defense: Texas A&M’s success this season can be largely attributed to the run game. Second in the SEC, averaging 258.6 yards per game, the Aggies will use the run game to their advantage against a Vols defense that is seventh in the SEC against the run, yielding an average of 149 yards per game.
EDGE: Texas A&M
Texas A&M receivers vs. Tennessee secondary: Christian Kirk leads the SEC with 33 catches. Josh Reynolds is third in the SEC with 399 total yards and 19.9 yards per reception. They’ll be a handful for the Vols’ secondary, and that doesn’t even count Ricky Seals-Jones and Speedy Noil if they are healthy after sitting out last week’s victory over South Carolina.
EDGE: Texas A&M
SPECIAL TEAMS
There isn’t a whole lot of notable edges between the two teams. Texas A&M leads the SEC with 14 field goal attempts, making 11 of them; Tennessee doesn’t kick field goals, just six attempted this season, making four of them. Only LSU (five) and Kentucky (four) have attempted fewer. Texas A&M holds an advantage in punt returns, averaging 16.5 yards per return as opposed to Tennessee’s 7.3.
EDGE: Texas A&M