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Using ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) as a guide, Texas A&M (2-0) has a 98.0 percent chance to beat Rice (0-1) on Saturday.
AGGIES SECONDARY SHOULD CLAMP DOWN AGAINST OWLS
Texas A&M has rocketed 14 spots up the Associated Press Top 25 Poll to No. 7, mainly on the strength of a surprising 52-28 blowout at then-No. 9 South Carolina. Despite one of the scariest offenses in the country, though, Texas A&M may be third or even fourth in the SEC West power rankings, with Ole Miss and Mississippi State representing legitimate threats to overtake them.
The reason: Texas A&M’s defense was miserable in 2013. The Aggies gave up some long pass plays to Dylan Thompson in the season-opening win in Columbia, S.C.
Lamar didn’t represent a real test last week. Rice receiver Jordan Taylor, arguably the team’s best player, ruled out with a sprained left foot and dual-threat quarterback Driphus Jackson (career 52.3 percent completion rate) has a skill set that’s light on throwing and heavy on running.
It’s hard to imagine Texas A&M doing anything that could lose this game. Rice traditionally fields a run-heavy offense. For all of those reasons, the Aggies need to make sure the Owls don’t string together several huge plays in the passing game or on special teams.
Texas A&M’s defense quietly has shown improvement. How much of that is real? We’ll find out more in this game. But the Aggies should put this one away before halftime.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
