MMR 2018 Week 4: Aggies at Abalama
Alright sports fans, we’re heading back to Tuscaloosa this weekend. It’s time for our annual match-up against Satan himself, Nick Saban. If paying the 2nd-ranked team in the country wasn’t tough enough this month, we go on the road to take on the (always) top-ranked Crimson Tide. This game presents the toughest challenge for these young Aggies, and all I am hoping is that this game doesn’t get as awkward as Suzy Kolber interviewing Joe Namath on the sideline. So down that cocktail, pucker up, and give this weekend a big ole’ kiss as you read this week’s MMR, previewing the Aggies versus Alabama.
Our Offense vs Their Defense
This is where the game will be won and lost for the Crimson Tide. This is where Alabama gets opponents to make a mistake or two, and rattle off 2-3 scores and put this game out of reach. If I can point to one thing that will predict the outcome, it’s whether A&M can maintain possession of the football and prevent costly turnovers. This has been where A&M has turned close games into runaways for Alabama. This year, look at Kellen Mond to repeat what we did against Clemson and have a monster, error-free game. Hopefully the offensive line got some good experience against Clemson’s defense and they can do everything they can to protect the quarterback and give some running room to Trayveon Williams.
That being said, the offense is also where Jimbo Fisher can use long, sustained drives to let the Aggie offense keep the ball away from the Tide offense. 10+ play drives that chew up the clock are an Aggie fan’s best friend. Hopefully the number of formations Fisher uses to disguise the plays he calls can keep Alabama off-guard to allow for long playing drives. The offensive line should perform well, especially in the interior. While Alabama is no slouch in stopping offenses, the Aggies may present the toughest offense they have to play this season. Look for Williams to grind out a 100-yard game, and for the big plays to be those that convert first-downs, not touchdowns. Kellen Mond will not have a Manziel-like game in T-town, but the ability for Mond to take off will keep the Crimson Tide on their toes. That will mean one less payer covering a tight end or supporting the line, allowing for a few more yards. I give the Aggies the advantage here.
Our Defense vs Their Offense.
Here is where I think playing the Crimson Tide to a close game will be the best the Aggies can hope for. All the Aggies need to do is keep Alabama from scoring every time they have the ball, and prevent the Tide from long gains. That’s a tall order for the improving Aggie defense. While there is talent all over the field, the depth becomes the concern for the Aggies. There is just so much talent in the Alabama offense, especially with their championship-winning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa behind center. This guy is one of the best quarterbacks Alabama has ever fielded, ever. The talent level is always high, enough to mask an average quarterback. With an amazing quarterback, this team is even more dangerous. The running game returns to where they always sit, amazing. And the wide receiver position is just reloaded and dangerous as ever for Alabama.
Look for the Aggies to answer with a defense that can fool quarterbacks and disguise the real play. The Aggies 4-2-5 formation allows for the middle linebacker to cheat forward or backward to where he is needed the most. The issue is that a good quarterback with a quick release can overcome this formation. That’s right, Alabama has that kind of quarterback. If (BIG IF) A&M can turn the tide (pun intended) and make Alabama cough up the ball, then the Aggies stand a good chance to win. Hey, we’ve seen crazier things happen in Tuscaloosa, trust me.
So, it’s really simple, the team that causes more turnovers wins. As long as each team plays the way they have the last two weeks, this should be a great game to watch. But I can never cheer against the good guys; they will make Satan, I mean Saban, suffer a stunning home loss, en route to another national championship for the Crimson Tide.
Aggies 34
Alabama 31