The SEC West is known for beating up on one another and this Saturday will be no different. The Alabama Crimson Tide have bounced back since their loss to Ole Miss, but this week will seriously test that momentum as they prepare to face the Texas A&M Aggies coming off a bye week. The Aggies rank one spot ahead of the Tide and have proven themselves a much different team than the one that got shut out last year.
A&M is looking to defeat the Tide and be a primary threat in the West as this would be a signature win for the young team. They are putting their hope in quarterback Kyle Allen who has been inconsistent this season despite his 169.0 passer rating that keeps him on top of the leaderboard. Allen has been thriving recently with two-straight 300-yard passing performances. Against Mississippi State he went 25 for 41 for 322 yards and two touchdowns. Allen is leading an offense that is much improved from the one that did not put up a single point against the Tide last year.
The big offense of the Aggies will test the rather stout defense of the Crimson Tide. Alabama is currently allowing just 77.3 rushing yards per game and 264.5 yards of total offense per game. The team has eight interceptions on the season and would love to get a few against the Aggies as Reggie Ragland leads the charge. The unit will have their hands full on Saturday. Texas A&M comes with one of the most balanced offenses in the country as they average 480.0 yards per game. They have rushed for at least 178 yards in all but one of their games this season.
The biggest issue for Alabama is eliminating turnovers and penalties. Jake Coker has been an interception machine lately while both Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry have had costly fumbles in the red zone for the offense. If Alabama can eliminate the self-inflicted wounds, their offense can keep speed with A&M. However, consistency has been an issue for the unit. They looked unstoppable against UGA, but struggled until the fourth quarter against Arkansas. If the game enters a shoot out of big plays, Alabama will be tested in order to get the win.