Texas A&M vs #13 LSU: A Football Preview

LSU QB Jayden Daniels/Image Credit: Gus Stark, Director of Football Photography, LSU

On Saturday, the #13 LSU Tigers (8-3) and the Texas A&M Aggies (7-4) will battle it out in the unfriendly confines of Tiger Stadium. The game will feature LSU’s high-octane offense, ranked #1 in college football, going up against an Aggie defense that ranks #8 in the country in total defense. But LSU owns a 35-23-3 record in the series that began in 1899.

Broadcast Information

· Date: Saturday, November 25

· Time: Noon EST

· T.V.: ESPN

The Stakes:

LSU goes for its ninth win of the season and bowl positioning. The Aggies will try to put another check in the win column to conclude a regular season full of chaos, injuries, and the firing of head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Key Players: Texas A&M Aggies

The true strength of this team is the defense, one that conjures up memories of the ole “Wrecking Crew” defense of RC Slocum in the late 80s and early 90s. This unit ranks nationally in the following categories:

· #8 in Total Defense @ 286 yards/game (leads the SEC)

· #16 in Pass Defense

· #16 in Rush Defense (leads the SEC)

· #26 in Scoring Defense @ 19 points/game.

· Tied for 3rd in Sacks with 40.

· #2 in Tackles for Loss with 94

· #7 in Opponents 3rd Down Conversion % = 28%

· #52 in Opponents Red Zone Conversion % = 80%

The leader of this unit is LB Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper has racked up 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. His 16 TFLs tie him for 10th in the FBS.

Key Players: LSU Tigers

Everyone knows that as QB Jayden Daniels goes, so 'Geaux the Tigers'. Daniels, a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, ranks 1st in the FBS in passing touchdowns (36), rushing yards among quarterbacks (1014), total offense (417 yards per game), and quarterback rating (208.34). His stat line reads like this:

· 3577 yards passing

· 4 INTs (303 pass attempts)

· 36 passing TDs

· 72% completion pct (5th in the FBS)

· 1014 rushing yards

· 10 rushing TDs

· 4,591 yards total offense

· 46 total touchdowns

Daniels is the only the 2nd player in SEC history to pass for 3500 yards and rush for 1000 yards in the same season (the other player was Johnny Manziel in 2012). Against Georgia State, Daniels tied the school record for touchdowns in a game. He finished with 509 total yards (as a team, LSU gained 582 total yards) and eight total touchdowns in a 56-14 win.

For his efforts, Daniels was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this season.

LSU’s perimeter weapons will test the Aggies' pass coverage.

WR Malik Nabers leads the country in receiving yards per game with 129 yards per game. He has caught 80 of Daniels’ passes for 1424 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging almost 18 yards per catch.

LSU WR Malik Nabers/Image Credit: Chris Parent-LSU Football

WR Brian Thomas, Jr. is the other weapon opposite Nabers. Thomas has hauled in 55 passes for 1021 yards and an FBS-leading 14 touchdowns.

LSU WR Brian Thomas, Jr./Image Credit: Ella Hall-LSU Football

Both Nabers and Thomas, Jr. are semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, awarded to the top wide receiver in college football.

Conclusion

Regardless of the early 11 AM kickoff, Tiger Stadium will be rocking for the final regular season game. The Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, and not once since that time has Texas A&M beaten LSU in Tiger Stadium. The last time the Aggies won in Death Valley was 1994. And Texas A&M has not faced an offense like LSU’s this season.

While the Aggie defense could keep the game close, it will be just another day at the office for Daniels and the Tigers offense. Look for the Tigers to add another “X” in the loss column for the Aggies in Tiger Stadium.

Final score: LSU 42 – Texas A&M 27