By no means thoughts that Florida is 2-3 and has but to win on the street this yr.
Based on Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, his fifth-ranked workforce might be going through its hardest opponent this yr when the Gators invade School Station for a Southeastern Convention matchup Saturday evening.
“By far and away, probably the most proficient workforce we have performed this yr,” Elko stated. “They have a superb group of gamers. They’ve performed a really aggressive schedule. They’ve performed in two top-10 environments already, so they’ll be well-versed in what that is like.”
That being stated, there’s a cause the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Convention) are robust favorites and ranked within the high 5. They’ve confirmed they’ll win any type of sport, whether or not it is a blowout (Utah State), a shootout (Notre Dame) or a defensive slugfest (Auburn).
A 31-9 residence win over Mississippi State final week most likely developments nearer to the Auburn sport than the Utah State contest. It was 7-3 at halftime and 14-3 after three quarters earlier than Texas A&M lastly bought a working margin with two fast fourth-quarter touchdowns.
The protection has carried the Aggies by way of the groups’ first two SEC video games. Texas A&M allowed solely 19 factors whole, routinely successful on first and second downs earlier than locking down on third down. Opponents have transformed simply 1 of 23 the previous two weeks.
“A big a part of our success is we have been very a lot in advantageous third-down conditions,” Elko stated. “A workforce goes first-and-10, second-and-6, third-and-2, your third-down share is clearly not going to almost be what it has been for us.”
The Texas A&M offense is paced by quarterback Marcel Reed, who has accomplished 59.7 % of his passes for 1,256 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. Le’Veon Moss has added 343 yards and 5 scores on the bottom.
In the meantime, Florida (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game shedding streak final week with a formidable 29-21 residence win over then-No. 9 Texas, a end result that despatched the Longhorns plummeting all the best way out of the Prime 25.
Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway shredded the Texas protection for 298 yards on 21-of-28 passing, throwing for 2 touchdowns. The Gators’ protection allowed simply 52 yards on the bottom and compelled Arch Manning to go it alone, sacking him six occasions and intercepting two passes to offset 263 yards and two scores.
It was a giant win for embattled coach Billy Napier, who landed again within the sizzling seat after consecutive losses to South Florida, then-No. 3 LSU and then-No. 4 Miami (Fla.). After getting the response to adversity he wished, he’s wanting to see how the workforce handles success in opposition to a top-five opponent on the street.
“Received to show round and play an excellent workforce,” Napier stated. “That is an extremely proficient (Texas A&M) workforce. Large, lengthy and quick. A really robust, bodily group. We respect the opponent, clearly.
“The quarterback is ready to make unannounced performs. It may be a terrific problem, and we will must be at our greatest. It is what you’ll anticipate on this league.”
Lagway has thrown for 988 yards and 7 touchdowns however has additionally tossed seven interceptions. Jadan Baugh leads the bottom sport with 396 yards and three scores.
The Aggies personal a 4-3 sequence lead, together with a 33-20 victory final yr in Gainesville, Fla.
–Discipline Stage Media
