Predicting the 2021 SEC Football Season: Texas A&M Aggies

WEEK 6, OCT 9: TEXAS A&M AGGIES

In the third installment of our wild blind dart-throwing predictions, we travel to Aggieland for Year 4 of the Jimbo experiment.

Coach: Jimbo Fisher (26-10, SEC 17-8, three years at TAMU; 109-33 overall)

2020 record: 9-1 (8-1 in SEC, 2nd in the West Division, Orange Bowl win over UNC)

CB969 2020 Prediction: 7-3 “Jimbo has fortified the roster pretty well but this team needs to learn to beat ranked teams....”

Looking back: The Aggies had an inauspicious start, squeaking out a 17-12 home win over doormat Vanderbilt followed by a 52-24 thumping by Alabama. It appears that trip to the Bryant-Denny woodshed woke the Aggs up for they took down No. 4 Florida the next week and won out. It was a memorable year but truth be told, other than Alabama and the Gators plus Ole Miss backing out, it was a pretty clear road to a winning record in 2020.

Returning starters: 6 on offense, 9 on defense, punter, kicker.

Key losses: QB Kellen Mond (Round 3, Vikings), DL Bobby Brown (Round 4, Rams), OT Dan Moore (Round 4, Steelers), LB Buddy Johnson (Round 4, Steelers), G Jared Hocker, C Ryan McCollum, OT Carson Green, LB Anthony Hines (sat out, undrafted junior #LifeChoices), WR Jhamon Ausbon (sat out to “prepare for the draft” and went undrafted #LifeChoices), DL Jeremiah Martin (transfer to Washington),

Top returnees: The entire coaching staff, All-American OL Kenyon Green, All-SEC RB Isaiah Spiller, APB Ainias Smith, TE Jalen Wydermyer, S Demani Richardson, DL DeMarvin Leal, DL McKinnley Jackson, WR Chase Lane, LB Aaron Hansford, DL Jayden Peevy, CB Myles Jones, PK Seth Small, P Nik Constantinou.

Top newcomers: OT Jahmir Johnson (Tennessee transfer), DE Shemar Turner (DeSoto, TX), DE Tunmise Adeleye (Katy, TX), RB LJ Johnson (Cypress, TX), OL Bryce Foster (Katy, TX), Shadrach Banks (Houston, TX), DE Elijah Jeudy (Philadelphia, PA).

Name you need to know: We have a legit quarterback controversy in College Station. Third year quarterback Zach Calzada (three games played in 2019) is trying to outshine second year Haynes King (two games in 2020). Neither player stood out in the TAMU spring game. King finished 16-of-31 for 211 yards and with a touchdown pass and an interception. Calzada posted similar numbers, in completing 14-of-29 for 144 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.

Strengths: Leftover momentum from last season... Kenyon Green surprisingly returned for one more tour of duty in which he’ll move to left tackle after becoming an All-American while playing left guard last year... Many veterans returning on defense... Recent recruiting has stockpiled some talent... Getting Bama, Arky, and Auburn at home...

Weaknesses: Finding a quarterback... Rebuilding the OL with four new starters... Lack of a deep threat... Secondary is spotty... Traveling to Baton Rouge at the end of the season...

Outlook: The media seems to be pretty high on the Aggies but there are real concerns on offense. The run game and short pass game have promise but can A&M stretch opposing defenses? The TAMU defense should be pretty stout and the schedule is very favorable.

The Las Vegas win total seems to hinge on the Aggies’ November trip to Oxford, MS.

Win Total Odds

Over 9.5 +100
Under 9.5 -125

2021 SCHEDULE:

Sep 4 vs Kent State 7:00 PM ESPNU - W - It’ll be a massacre (too soon?)
Sep 11 vs Colorado * 2:30 PM FOX - W - Former Big 12 foes meet for the first times since 2009.
Sep 18 vs New Mexico 11:00 AM SECN - W - Lobos to the slaughter...
Sep 25 vs Arkansas ** - W - not sure why Arky keeps playing this game on a “neutral” field.
Oct 2 vs Mississippi State - W
Oct 9 vs Alabama - L - Agg gets Bama at home but it won’t matter.
Oct 16 @ Missouri - W - This could be trouble. BIG trouble.
Oct 23 vs South Carolina - W - Must be nice to have SC as the permanent cross-over... for now.
Oct 30 bye
Nov 6 vs Auburn - W
Nov 13 @ Ole Miss - W - Should be an interesting one.
Nov 20 vs Prairie View A&M - W
Nov 27 @ LSU - L
* Denver
** Arlington, TX

ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:

Sep 4 vs Miami* 2:30 PM CT, ABC
Sep 11 vs Mercer 3:00 PM CT, SECN
Sep 18 @ Florida 2:30 PM CT, CBS
Sep 25 vs Southern Miss
Oct 2 vs Ole Miss
Oct 9 @ Texas A&M
Oct 16 @ Mississippi State
Oct 23 vs Tennessee
Oct 30 bye
Nov 6 vs LSU
Nov 13 vs New Mexico State
Nov 20 vs Arkansas
Nov 27 @ Auburn
*Atlanta, GA