133. Texas A&M (+10.5) at South Carolina
The game features two of the three best offensive lines in the conference, which says a lot when you’re talking SEC football. The dominance up front for both offenses should produce plenty of success on the ground for both rushing attacks. I’m not as optimistic as most on the Cocks defense, especially early the season. They will progress and still be a solid unit, but a step back from recent years is expected.
A&M’s defensive struggles are well documented, but I anticipate substantial improvement this season. There will be some progression, which is expected with the bulk of the unit returning and expected solid coaching. How much of a progression remains to be seen. More importantly, the defense should be aided by a more “normal/standard” offense with more of a focus on the ground game and ball control. A&M’s offense was one of the fastest scoring offenses last year and was on the field less than 117 other program leaving the defense, already undermanned, to be on the field for incredible amounts of time and plays. This should improve drastically and the expected progression, experience and less time on the field should do wonders for this unit this season.
Texas A&M has certainly lost some big pieces, but this team has reached the point where they are recruiting on par with the SEC elite and have a recruiting resume that more closely resembles Alabama and LSU than even a Georgia or Florida does. The Aggies are loaded with top tier talent all over the field, which doesn’t always correlate to results, but is a strong indicator of a team who has reached the level of reloading versus rebuilding.
The receivers, while inexperienced and young, have the potential to be an outstanding unit. Seals-Jones, Reynolds, Noil and Kennedy could develop into something special, but the quarterback play will need to be there as well, obviously. The South Carolina secondary is suspect and could have fits dealing with this bunch, if, and it’s a big if, Hill can play well and keep his composure in an incredibly hostile environment. Fortunately, he should have excellent protection, which is a must for a young QB.
Williams-Brice Stadium is one of the three or four most difficult places to play IMO, so backing the Aggies is certainly a risk, but at this price a risk I’m willing to take. The Gamecocks for all their success at home are a bit less than a coin flip laying this type of number in conference. I don’t see the Aggies walking away with a victory here, but I expect them to give the Gamecocks all they can handle a stay within single digits.
South Carolina has their own QB issues, albeit on much less of a scale. Thompson showed flashes of brilliance last year, but also showed stretches of incompetence. He appeared lost in two big games he started v UCF and Missouri, but he was the backup, which carries a different mentality. He’s the man now, I expect him to play well, but consistency could be an issue.
Two biggest concerns for me here are the ultra-talented South Carolina offensive line simply wearing a questionable A&M defensive front down with Davis and company and pulling away late. Lastly, I fear Hill just completely succumbing to the pressure, environment, crowd, etc. I expect the A&M offensive front to have similar success pounding the Cocks defensive front, moving the ball on the ground and giving the defense much need rest, which greatly limits my concern on the former, as for the latter, it certainly wouldn’t be shocking. If Hill does fold up, turn the ball over it will likely turn into the Gamecocks rout unless Thompson is equally as terrible, which is unlikely.
Oddly enough, everyone and their mother is on SC, yet the line keeps moving towards the Aggies….
Just my $0.02.
Best of luck with your action.
The game features two of the three best offensive lines in the conference, which says a lot when you’re talking SEC football. The dominance up front for both offenses should produce plenty of success on the ground for both rushing attacks. I’m not as optimistic as most on the Cocks defense, especially early the season. They will progress and still be a solid unit, but a step back from recent years is expected.
A&M’s defensive struggles are well documented, but I anticipate substantial improvement this season. There will be some progression, which is expected with the bulk of the unit returning and expected solid coaching. How much of a progression remains to be seen. More importantly, the defense should be aided by a more “normal/standard” offense with more of a focus on the ground game and ball control. A&M’s offense was one of the fastest scoring offenses last year and was on the field less than 117 other program leaving the defense, already undermanned, to be on the field for incredible amounts of time and plays. This should improve drastically and the expected progression, experience and less time on the field should do wonders for this unit this season.
Texas A&M has certainly lost some big pieces, but this team has reached the point where they are recruiting on par with the SEC elite and have a recruiting resume that more closely resembles Alabama and LSU than even a Georgia or Florida does. The Aggies are loaded with top tier talent all over the field, which doesn’t always correlate to results, but is a strong indicator of a team who has reached the level of reloading versus rebuilding.
The receivers, while inexperienced and young, have the potential to be an outstanding unit. Seals-Jones, Reynolds, Noil and Kennedy could develop into something special, but the quarterback play will need to be there as well, obviously. The South Carolina secondary is suspect and could have fits dealing with this bunch, if, and it’s a big if, Hill can play well and keep his composure in an incredibly hostile environment. Fortunately, he should have excellent protection, which is a must for a young QB.
Williams-Brice Stadium is one of the three or four most difficult places to play IMO, so backing the Aggies is certainly a risk, but at this price a risk I’m willing to take. The Gamecocks for all their success at home are a bit less than a coin flip laying this type of number in conference. I don’t see the Aggies walking away with a victory here, but I expect them to give the Gamecocks all they can handle a stay within single digits.
South Carolina has their own QB issues, albeit on much less of a scale. Thompson showed flashes of brilliance last year, but also showed stretches of incompetence. He appeared lost in two big games he started v UCF and Missouri, but he was the backup, which carries a different mentality. He’s the man now, I expect him to play well, but consistency could be an issue.
Two biggest concerns for me here are the ultra-talented South Carolina offensive line simply wearing a questionable A&M defensive front down with Davis and company and pulling away late. Lastly, I fear Hill just completely succumbing to the pressure, environment, crowd, etc. I expect the A&M offensive front to have similar success pounding the Cocks defensive front, moving the ball on the ground and giving the defense much need rest, which greatly limits my concern on the former, as for the latter, it certainly wouldn’t be shocking. If Hill does fold up, turn the ball over it will likely turn into the Gamecocks rout unless Thompson is equally as terrible, which is unlikely.
Oddly enough, everyone and their mother is on SC, yet the line keeps moving towards the Aggies….
Just my $0.02.
Best of luck with your action.
