By no means thoughts that Florida is 2-3 and has but to win on the highway this 12 months.
In accordance with Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, his fifth-ranked staff will probably be dealing with its hardest opponent this 12 months when the Gators invade School Station for a Southeastern Convention matchup Saturday night time.
“By far and away, essentially the most proficient staff we have performed this 12 months,” Elko stated. “They have a wonderful group of gamers. They’ve performed a really aggressive schedule. They’ve performed in two top-10 environments already, so they will be well-versed in what that is like.”
That being stated, there’s a purpose the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Convention) are sturdy favorites and ranked within the high 5. They’ve confirmed they’ll win any sort of recreation, whether or not it is a blowout (Utah State), a shootout (Notre Dame) or a defensive slugfest (Auburn).
A 31-9 house win over Mississippi State final week most likely developments nearer to the Auburn recreation 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 means of the groups’ first two SEC video games. Texas A&M allowed solely 19 factors complete, routinely profitable 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 staff goes first-and-10, second-and-6, third-and-2, your third-down proportion 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 p.c 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 dropping streak final week with a powerful 29-21 house win over then-No. 9 Texas, a consequence 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 instances and intercepting two passes to offset 263 yards and two scores.
It was an enormous win for embattled coach Billy Napier, who landed again within the scorching 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 desirous to see how the staff handles success towards a top-five opponent on the highway.
“Acquired to show round and play an impressive staff,” Napier stated. “That is an extremely proficient (Texas A&M) staff. Large, lengthy and quick. A really powerful, bodily group. We respect the opponent, clearly.
“The quarterback is ready to make unannounced performs. It will be an awesome problem, and we will must be at our greatest. It is what you’d count on on this league.”
Lagway has thrown for 988 yards and 7 touchdowns however has additionally tossed seven interceptions. Jadan Baugh leads the bottom recreation with 396 yards and three scores.
The Aggies personal a 4-3 collection lead, together with a 33-20 victory final 12 months in Gainesville, Fla.
–Subject Stage Media
