No. 3 (CFP) Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0 SEC) will face another challenge on the road on Saturday afternoon. It takes on No. 22 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC) in Columbia to end a three-game road trip. The first two games were wins over Arkansas and LSU. After the bye week, the recent College Football Playoff ranking has not distracted Elko’s focus on the task at hand.
On paper, Missouri’s defense is one of the top units in the SEC. It has limited opposing rushing attacks to 90.4 average yards per game. It has been consistent in the secondary, allowing 155 passing yards per game. However, the Tigers will have to rely on freshman quarterback Matt Zollers against Texas A&M’s elite pass rush, which is led by senior Cashius Howell, who leads the SEC with 9 1/2 sacks.
After losing to Vanderbilt 17-0 at home, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is confident his offense will be ready, especially star running back Ahmad Hardy, who leads the SEC with 937 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Early in games, Texas A&M’s run defense has struggled, allowing chunk gains on the ground, but it has adjusted in the second half.
While this has not resulted in a loss, Hardy is considered the best back for a reason and can exploit the Aggies early if they are not in position and plugging the gaps. It will be up to defensive tackles DJ Hicks and Albert Regis to make their presence felt throughout the afternoon.
This will be a game won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Starting quarterback Marcel Reed will depend on Texas A&M’s offensive line to protect him and allow enough time to find transfer wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver and produce explosive gains through the air.
Every week, ESPN’s FPI predictor releases its updated percentages, and the Aggies are still favored to win on the road: 56.5% to Missouri’s 43.5%. That isn’t shocking given the Tigers’ injury issues, Texas A&M’s week of rest and the Aggies’ dominant road win over LSU.
Texas A&M will face Missouri on Saturday (Nov. 8) at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN predicts the winner of Texas A&M’s Week 11 road test vs. Missouri
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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