By no means thoughts that Florida is 2-3 and has but to win on the highway this 12 months.
Based on Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, his fifth-ranked staff might be going through its hardest opponent this 12 months when the Gators invade Faculty Station for a Southeastern Convention matchup Saturday evening.
“By far and away, probably the most gifted staff we have performed this 12 months,” Elko mentioned. “They have a superb group of gamers. They’ve performed a really aggressive schedule. They’ve performed in two top-10 environments already, so they’ll be well-versed in what that is like.”
That being mentioned, there’s a motive the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Convention) are robust favorites and ranked within the high 5. They’ve confirmed they will win any form of recreation, whether or not it is a blowout (Utah State), a shootout (Notre Dame) or a defensive slugfest (Auburn).
A 31-9 house win over Mississippi State final week in all probability traits nearer to the Auburn recreation than the Utah State contest. It was 7-3 at halftime and 14-3 after three quarters earlier than Texas A&M lastly obtained a working margin with two fast fourth-quarter touchdowns.
The protection has carried the Aggies by way of the groups’ first two SEC video games. Texas A&M allowed solely 19 factors whole, routinely profitable on first and second downs earlier than locking down on third down. Opponents have transformed simply 1 of 23 the previous two weeks.
“A big a part of our success is we have been very a lot in advantageous third-down conditions,” Elko mentioned. “A staff goes first-and-10, second-and-6, third-and-2, your third-down share is clearly not going to just about be what it has been for us.”
The Texas A&M offense is paced by quarterback Marcel Reed, who has accomplished 59.7 % of his passes for 1,256 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. Le’Veon Moss has added 343 yards and 5 scores on the bottom.
In the meantime, Florida (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game shedding streak final week with a formidable 29-21 house win over then-No. 9 Texas, a consequence that despatched the Longhorns plummeting all the best way out of the High 25.
Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway shredded the Texas protection for 298 yards on 21-of-28 passing, throwing for 2 touchdowns. The Gators’ protection allowed simply 52 yards on the bottom and compelled Arch Manning to go it alone, sacking him six instances and intercepting two passes to offset 263 yards and two scores.
It was a giant win for embattled coach Billy Napier, who landed again within the scorching seat after consecutive losses to South Florida, then-No. 3 LSU and then-No. 4 Miami (Fla.). After getting the response to adversity he wished, he’s wanting to see how the staff handles success in opposition to a top-five opponent on the highway.
“Bought to show round and play an excellent staff,” Napier mentioned. “That is an extremely gifted (Texas A&M) staff. Large, lengthy and quick. A really powerful, bodily group. We respect the opponent, clearly.
“The quarterback is ready to make unannounced performs. It is going to be an incredible problem, and we will should be at our greatest. It is what you’d count on on this league.”
Lagway has thrown for 988 yards and 7 touchdowns however has additionally tossed seven interceptions. Jadan Baugh leads the bottom recreation with 396 yards and three scores.
The Aggies personal a 4-3 collection lead, together with a 33-20 victory final 12 months in Gainesville, Fla.
–Subject Degree Media
