Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Texas A&M Aggies cruised past the Sam Houston State Bearkats in College Station, Texas Saturday night 65-28. The Aggies racked up 714 yards of total offense against the Bearkats, including a school-record 500 yards through the air. Johnny Manziel didn’t disappoint as he went 28-of-41 for 403 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Of course, Johnny Football managed to use his electrifyingly quick legs and feet, running for one touchdown as well Saturday night in central Texas. Manziel didn’t even play a full three quarters due to the lopsided score.
Defensively, A&M has allowed both Rice and Sam Houston State to gain 200 plus yards on the ground against them in back-to-back weeks. This is very concerning, as the Aggies await the two-time defending National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide in a revenge game for the Tide dating back to last November. A&M handed Alabama their only loss of the 2012 NCAA college football season with an improbable 29-24 victory in Tuscaloosa. With the powerful and explosive running attack of Alabama coming to town, the Aggies better buckle up their chin straps and try to slow the Tide between the tackles.
If the Aggies don’t manage to improve their defense in the next week, the Crimson Tide should avenge the Heisman Trophy clinching win for Johnny Football from last season.
College Gameday will grace its presence in College Station for the big game on September 14, and anyone who watches the game might just see the most intense and fierce battle of the entire 2013 season. I understand this is a mid-September game, however, the atmosphere plus the hatred these two teams have for one another will permeate throughout the land come Saturday.
Since Nice Saban and the Crimson Tide have had an extra week to prepare for the Aggies due to their bye week being this weekend, Alabama should have the advantage in terms of preparation. However, the last time I checked A&M still has the mystique that is Johnny Football as well as home-field advantage in this epic rematch, and Kevin Sumlin is a fantastic head coach in his own right.
Of course, Alabama will be No. 1 in the polls heading into the game, and A&M should move up at least one spot to No. 6 in the country with South Carolina losing to Georgia in Athens yesterday.
Will Alabama’s running attack and defense slow the Aggies on Saturday, or will Manziel and the potent A&M offense explode against the Crimson Tide in College Station? As for me and many others, I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
Randy Drautz is a Denver Nuggets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RDrautz, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
