This is not only a matchup of the Alabama defense vs the A&M offense, but it’s also a pretty good matchup of the Alabama offense vs. the A&M defense. That’ll be a big factor. Johnny Manziel may be the focal point of this game, but A.J. McCarron, T.J. Yeldon and the offense will be just as critical. I expect more of an offensive duel here with the better team pulling it out. On the Plains, AU tries to pull off a major upset over the 14 1/2 point favored Dawgs. Jonathan Wallace, Tre Mason and Onterio McCalebb will have to be at their best and the defensive players will have to play the best ball of their season if not their careers at Auburn. But both of these games should be fun to watch. ‘Bama is a 13 1/2 point favorite, but I’m not buying that. A&M lost to better defensive teams in Florida and LSU, and ‘Bama is just as good as those two defenses if not better. But A&M has probably learned and will have some new wrinkles offensively against the Tide. Here’s this week’s predictions:
Last week: 9-1; Overall: 95-27 (78%)
No.16 Texas A&M @ No.1 Tide
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, (101,821)
When: 2:30 PM CT
Network: CBS; Verne, Gary and Wolf
Line: ‘Bama by 13 1/2
An interesting matchup will be A&M defensive end Damontre Moore vs Bama left tackle Cyrus Kouandijo. Moore has 11.5 sacks on the season, and Cyrus has played exceptionally this year protecting A.J. and opening holes for Eddie and T.J. The whole line for Alabama will be important as they always are. A&M is 11th in the country in sacks with 27 while the Alabama o line is 69th in sacks allowed with 18. T.J. and Eddie will be big factors in this game, particularly T.J. He’s kind of taken charge more back there. Sure the Tide wants to run the ball well; they want to control the game and keep A&M from getting the ball with their fast paced, high octane offense. And then there’s the task of stopping Johnny Manziel and the A&M offense. Not only Manziel, but tailbacks Ben Malena (637 yards and six TDs) and Christine Michael (321, yards, 8 TDs). Ryan Swope is a fantastic receiver and Manziel has other weapons on the perimeter. Manziel has run for 922 and thrown for 2,527 with 16 TDs against six ints. While the ‘Bama defense is good and could neutralize the run, Zach Mettenberger of LSU proved you can pass some on the Tide. So this is more of an offensive game to me. Tide in for a battle, but I’ll pick the Tide. Defense still pretty good, will do enough and the offense can score on A&M defense.
‘Bama 31, A&M 27
No.6 Georgia @ Auburn
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Pat Dye Field (87,451)
When: 6 PM CT
Network: ESPN2
LIne: Dawgs by 14 1/2
Auburn is much better with Jonathan Wallace under center. Where’s he been all season? Auburn is going to play hard; they gained some momentum from last weeks’ win over New Mexico State. But it was New Mexico State. Georgia is a very good football team on a mission, and I don’t think AU can stop’em. ‘Dawgs want to get to the SEC Championship game and maybe have an outside chance at the BCS national title game though they’d have to win out, beat most likely Alabama in SEC title game, and have Oregon, K-State and Notre Dame lose, but it’s not out of the question. The No.6 ‘Dawgs would vault LSU by winning out. A BCS bowl could be a very realistic possibility for the ‘Dawgs. AU may give them a good game for a while, but I just don’t think Auburn can stop Aaron Murray, Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Tavarres King and the rest of the Dawgs offensive arsenal. Wallace will be facing a hard-nosed, game changing defense this week led by linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree. Tough assignment for AU. Chizik looks like he’s in for his last dance this year. A Georgia blowout could speed up the process of firing him. Could be a long afternoon for Tigers.
Dawgs 38, AU 17
Other scores:
LSU 28, State 27
Vandy 28, Ole Miss 24
Tennessee 37, Mizzou 34
Florida 37, Lousiana-Lafayette 7
South Carolina 34, Arkansas 28
Stanford 31, Oregon State 28
Marshall 38, UAB 34
Nebraska 34, Penn State 28