Texas A&M Football: 10 Reasons to have hope against Alabama
Texas A&M football is an underwhelming underdog to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. It’s not all doom and gloom though, here are 10 reasons to keep the faith.
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No, Johnny Manziel does not have any remaining college eligibility (that we’re aware of). But even without the return of the greatest miracle maker in Texas A&M football history, the Aggies shouldn’t write off the Alabama game as a loss.
Texas A&M might not have put it all together at once yet, but they’ve never shied away from a shocking upset or two. But this isn’t just a fluff piece to make you feel better. Here are 10 reasons, backed up with facts, that the Aggies have a shot to beat Alabama on Saturday.
1. Kellen Mond is undefeated as a starter
Mond looked rattled when he was forced into emergency use against UCLA. The true freshman was expected to see some time on the field that Sunday, but certainly not the entire second half. Since being inserted as the starter, Mond is a perfect 4-0. Jalen Hurts has one loss. That’s more than Mond.
2. Sumlin has never lost more than once in his first six games of the season
Texas A&M has already gotten their first loss out of the way. Kevin Sumlin has had a couple of 5-0 starts, but even in his “down” years he hasn’t stumbled more than once in the first half.
3. Texas A&M is undefeated as an unranked team against Nick Saban
That’s right. The Aggies have never lost to the Crimson Tide when they entered the game unranked. Never mind that this is the first time in the six years that Kevin Sumlin has been at Texas A&M that the Aggies have been unranked when they faced Alabama.
4. Mond is a mobile quarterback, just like Johnny Manziel
Saban’s struggles defending against mobile quarterbacks has been well documented. Mond already has a longer run from scrimmage than Manziel had as an Aggie. The Aggies will be fine, provided that Mond can do this:
5. Kyle Allen cannot throw 3-pick sixes.
Sorry if that brings up bad memories. Former Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen had a meltdown of epic proportions against the Tide in 2015 which included a pair of returned picks by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Allen can’t hurt the Aggies this time, he plays for Houston. Well, he was benched at Houston.
6. This isn’t Vanderbilt
40,000 were on hand to witness the Commodores get bushwacked by Alabama a few weeks ago. There will be more than 100,000 loud fans at Kyle Field on Saturday. Having one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the country can only be a good thing.
7. Alabama is due for a loss
It’s true. The Crimson Tide have only finished undefeated once in the last 20 years. Even the mighty have off days, so why not not on Saturday? If Ole Miss can beat Bama, so can the Aggies.
8. Alabama is beat up
They might not have taken many blows on the scoreboard, but the Tide are without a pair of important players this weekend. Nick Saban has already ruled out defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and returner Trevor Diggs.
9. Saban is scared
“This is by far, I think, the strongest team that we’ve played to this point all the way around,” said Nick Saban. That’s a quote. Saban said that about the Aggies. Somebody sounds scared, coach.
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10. Texas A&M football never does the expected
The Aggies weren’t expected to beat Alabama in 2012. Nobody thought they’d blow a 34 point lead in the Rose Bowl earlier this season. They just aren’t a conventional team. Take your common sense and throw it out the window, the Aggies prefer the impossible and the improbable.