Texas A&M vs Arkansas Preview
Texas A&M and Arkansas face off again in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium as the Aggies look to win their 10th straight against the Razorbacks. By: The Hammer
Jimbo and Calzada have been grinding this week in preparation for another hog slaughter.
It’s finally time for some SEC football. These first three games have been fun and all, but the real season begins now. The margin for error is gone. Texas A&M has to play a good, sound football game to come out of Jerry World with a win. The good news is, we’ve done it nine straight times.
The Aggies are 3-0 heading into SEC play, and while it may not have been as pretty as many hoped, the bottomline is this team is undefeated. So is their opponent on Saturday, Arkansas. And I’m hearing a lot of hype on this Arkansas team. They are the trendy pick to win the game. Plenty of talking heads are picking the Razorbacks to win outright. Good. Let them doubt the Aggies. Let them doubt a team that has won 11 straight games. Let them doubt Jimbo Fisher, these players, and this team - cause they’re going to be proven wrong.
I believe in this team, but they need to prove it by playing up to their potential as well. Arkansas is a very good, well coached team. If A&M plays how they did against Colorado for instance, we’ll lose this game. But that ain’t happening. I expect this to be a low scoring, old school SEC slugfest. This game will be won in the trenches. Hat on hat, man on man, throwing haymakers for 60 minutes. These are the kinds of games recruits come to the SEC for.
I’m most worried about our offensive line in this matchup. So far this unit has been suspect in pass protection and hasn’t opened up a ton of holes in the run game. Finding success running the ball in this game will be huge. Spiller and Achane are too talented to not hand them the rock at least 30 times between the two. Of course, we need to be able to block in order for that to happen. The Hogs front seven is pretty stout led by three senior linebackers in Hayden Henry, Bumper Pool and Grant Morgan. The Hog defense is giving up 125 yards rushing per game, which is just 9th in the SEC, so there should be some running room if the offensive line can find some footing. If the Aggies can average 4 yards per carry in this game, I think we win.
Jalen Catalon returning an interception for a TD last year. He is one of the best Safeties in the SEC. Photo by Charlie Kaijo, NWA Democrat-Gazette
In the passing game, if we can give Zach time, I trust him to make the right throws and be accurate. If he’s under pressure all day, it will be trouble. The Razorbacks defense feasts on turnovers, especially in the secondary led by All American Jalen Catalon. Calzada has got to take care of the ball, and that starts with the offensive line giving him adequate protection. I actually think Zach’s legs could be an X factor here, similar to how he used them against Colorado. I’m not expecting designed runs, but he showed a few flashes taking off and scrambling against the Buffs. Don’t be surprised if he is able to extend a few plays or convert a few key third downs with his legs.
On the outside, it looks like Demond Demas will get his second straight start as Caleb Chapman is unlikely to play again due to injury. Hate seeing Chapman down, but I’m excited to see Demas in this environment. I think he can be a big impact player on Saturday. Ainias Smith was also bitten by the injury bug last week and is questionable. If he can’t go, that’s going to really hurt the Aggie offense. His big play ability puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses, and we’ll miss that if he’s out. That said, it’s hard not to like what we saw from Moose Muhammad last week so if Smith can’t go, let’s see what Moose has. In the passing game, I think Wydermyer needs to have a big game. He’s made for these physical games and should be able make a few plays down the seam, especially off play action.
Points will be at a premium in this one. I don’t expect A&M to score a bunch, but if they can make a few big plays and establish somewhat of a running game, I like our chances. Seth Small could be a big impact player in this game as well. He’s been solid over his career and so far this year is 5/6 on field goal attempts. We cannot leave points on the field so any time Small gets an opportunity, it’s important he splits the uprights.
Seth Small needs to be dialed in on Saturday. Photo by Paul Burke, The Battalion.
As far as the Arkansas offense is concerned, I’m not too worried. This team can run the ball, and even though the Aggies run defense has been weaker than I expected, allowing 164 rushing yards per game thus far, I think they ratchet things up on Saturday and get it done, especially if Arkansas is missing two starting offensive lineman in center Ricky Stromgberg and tackle Dalton Wagner. I expect Elko to load the box up and dare KJ Jefferson to beat us through the air. I don’t believe Jefferson can, and I really trust our secondary is pass defense right now. The secondary has been lights out so far this year and I’m betting they keep up that performance. Arkansas thinks they’ll be able to run the ball because they did against Texas. Too bad this ain’t the soft ass Texas defense, Kendall Briles. The Aggie defense will be ready and Elko will have a perfect game plan. Arkansas could find some success running the ball, but it will pale in comparison to what the Hogs did to Texas when they rushed for 333 yards.
I can’t freaking wait for this game. Not only do I think it’s going to be a close, hard fought game but I think the Aggies win and shut up all the Razorbacks who suddenly think they are hot stuff. Arkansas has been the worst team in the SEC West for a decade and they win three games and all of the sudden think they run the show - and I do really like Sam Pittman and believe he absolutely has this team heading in the right direction - but not Saturday. A&M is too talented and too good to let Arkansas steal a victory. The Aggies will have to earn it and play their best game of the season, but I believe they will.
Texas A&M 20
Arkansas 13
#BTHOARKANSAS
