10/1 Mississippi State @ Davis-Wade Stadium
On the topic of revenge and painful games to watch last year, this will be another one that Texas A&M will hopefully get back. One thing that is always tricky about Mike Leach and the air raid offense is that when his offense is clicking there is little that will slow them down. Last year A&M experimented with a 3-3-5 defense for a good part of the game (which is very much not what they normally run) but still could not keep the Bulldogs from getting 438 passing yards… and 30 rushing yards.
This game felt like the absolute death blow to the season last year. Watching them pick A&Ms defense apart was one of the more painful things I experience last year. But life goes on and this year Jimbo better stick to his roots and keep the 4-3 or 4-2-5 instead of the 3-3-5 experiment.
Players to Watch:
Will Rogers QB #2 2021 Stats (4739 Passing Yards, 36 TDs, 73.9% Pass Completion, Attempts 53 passes a game)
Jaden Walley WR #11 2021 Stats (628 Receiving Yards, 6 TDs, 11.4 YPC)
Nathaniel Watson LB #14 2021 Stats (83 Total Tackles, 5 Sacks, 6 TFL)
Analysis:
No one in the SEC runs a more pure Air Raid than Mike Leach. The toughest part about playing a team like this is it is a lot like the triple option, you will not see it very often but you have to be disciplined to play it. The second tricky part is the offense revolves 100% on QB play. If he is having an off day your team will not win. But if he’s hot there is a good chance you’re not going to keep up.
Mike Leach and Will Rogers picked apart this A&M defense last year, especially in the short pass play. That is something that A&M will have to figure out how to play better as Mississippi State will be running the same game plan as last year. Our defense should be consistently getting pressure on the QB and hopefully, our CBs are ready for 50-60 passes throughout the game.
My main problem with this game is it is the first road game for Texas A&M, playing a different style of offense you will not see the rest of the year, and it is right before Alabama. You could very much label this game as a trap game.
But I believe in this Texas A&M team and it will be nice to get in a loud environment before heading off to Tuscaloosa. I think the defensive approach this year will be different as last year it was just bad. Offensively we should be very much improved and the O-line should have no issue with Mississippi State defense this year. Keeping their offense off the field as long as you can and running the ball is how Texas A&M gets this win.
Prediction: Texas A&M 28-17 (Texas A&M 5-0)