COLLEGE STATION, TX. – Host Texas A&M and South Carolina haven’t inspired much confidence among their fanbases early in the season, but one of them will pick up a key SEC victory when they square off Saturday.
The Aggies have won each of their previous three meetings, including a 24-13 victory at South Carolina last season.
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The Aggies are an epic second-half collapse against UCLA away from being undefeated, but they haven’t made things easy on themselves. They were tied entering the fourth quarter against Nicholls State, trailed at halftime versus UL Lafayette and eked out a 50-43 overtime win over Arkansas last week.
The optimism that arose from South Carolina’s 2-0 start has been tempered after its last two games – a 23-13 home loss to Kentucky and a 17-16 triumph over visiting Louisiana Tech. The Gamecocks can regain the positive mindset with their first win in four meetings with the Aggies, which would give them their first 4-1 start since 2013.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Texas A&M -8
Live score updates:
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ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (3-1, 1-1 SEC):
The Gamecocks’ offense has faltered since star receiver Deebo Samuel was lost to a fractured left leg against Kentucky as it was shut out for three quarters last week. The defense kept South Carolina in the game until quarterback Jake Bentley and running back Ty’Son Williams got the offense going. The Gamecocks also have struggled in the kicking game, but redshirt freshman walk-on kicker Parker White - who was a walk-on - made his first successful field goal count last week as he booted a 31-yarder to beat Louisiana Tech.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (3-1, 1-0):
The Aggies are prone to playing in shootouts – they average 40.8 points but give up 30.8 per contest. Freshman quarterback Kellen Mond has been solid, passing for 649 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions, but Texas A&M’s strength has been the ground game, which is led by Trayveon Williams (328 yards, four touchdowns) and Keith Ford (232, five). The Aggies also have leaned on their defense’s ball-hawking nature, as it has forced 11 turnovers thus far.
EXTRA POINTS
1. South Carolina is 1-4 all-time in the state of Texas, with the only win being a 27-21 triumph over Texas in 1957.
2. Texas A&M S Armani Watts, who clinched the overtime win over Arkansas with an interception in the end zone, is the only FBS player in the nation with at least five tackles for loss, three picks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
3. The Aggies, who lead the SEC with 3.25 sacks per game, recorded six against Arkansas.