The Flordia Gators have everything they need to win the SEC, but will a road game against the Texas A&M Aggies trip them up?
The Florida Gators entered this season with high expectations of not only being a legit contender in winning the SEC but also as one of the favorites to make The College Football Playoff, and two games in the Gators have lived up to those expectations. But the way the Gators’ offense has been playing to start off this season has many, including myself, somewhat surprised. The Gators are averaging 44.5 points per game while averaging nearly 500 yards of total offense in their first two games.
The success of this offense is led by quarterback Kyle Trask, who has completed 51 of his 71 passes and has totaled nearly 700 passing yards and ten touchdowns. Trask has forced his name into early-season Heisman talks and given his performance thus far, those talks are just going to get louder and louder as the season progresses. And Trask’s favorite target has already been identified and good luck stopping him. Tight end Kyl Pitts has 227 receiving yards on the season and of his 12 catches, half of those have been for touchdowns.
The Gators are taking on Texas A&M on Saturday, a team that has been pretty underwhelming and underperforming in their first two games. After beating Vanderbilt in their season opener 17 to 12, the Aggies went on the road and take on Alabama, in a game that would show if the Aggies were ready to make that next step, and after their 52 to 24 loss to the Tide, it is clear that they are still the same ole Texas A&M Aggies we are used to seeing.
And the poor play of the Aggies falls on both the offense and defense. While the offense is averaging just 21.5 points per game, their defense is allowing 32 points a game and just under 400 yards of total offense. One highlight of the Aggies season so far has been wide receiver turned running back, Ainias Smith, who is averaging over five yards a carry and has one touchdown on the ground, but is also the Texas A&M’s leading receiver with eight catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The Aggies defense has not shown any sign of life that they could be able to stop an offense of Florida’s caliber but their offense is going up against a defense that is allowing 471 yards a game and could win this game in a shootout. Can Texas A&M pull off the upset and regain some lost respect? Or will the Gators take control and send the Aggies below .500?
Here’s how to watch and bet on the Florida vs. Texas A&M game.
- Date:Â Saturday, Oct. 10
- Start Time:Â 12:00 p.m. ET
- Location:Â College Station, Texas
- Stadium: Kyle Field
- TV Info:Â ESPN
- Odds: Florida -6.5, O/U 58
- Live Stream:Â WatchESPN
Prediction: I think Texas A&M will keep things close in this one, and honestly they have to as a blowout loss will send College Station into a frenzy. But Florida’s offense is going to control the tempo and outcome of this game, forcing the A&M offense to contend with them step for step, while challenging the Aggie defense to stop their big-play ability. The Aggies get a late score to spice things up a bit but it is all Florida in this one as the Gators start the season 3-0.
Score: Florida 34, Texas A&M 27.
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