Texas A&M heads into its home matchup with Kentucky as a sizable favorite after handling Arizona State 48-20 in Week 2.
The Aggies didn’t exactly light it up offensively against the Sun Devils. Marcel Reed finished with 163 passing yards and three touchdowns, but the run game never found much rhythm, producing just 92 yards on 35 carries. Even so, Texas A&M found another gear when the game tilted, and the defense made sure of it by forcing four turnovers.
Two of those takeaways changed the scoreboard in a hurry. Marco Jones and Julio Humphrey both brought back interceptions for touchdowns in the second half, helping the Aggies put together a 31-10 edge after the break.
Now Texas A&M turns to a Kentucky team coming off a 45-17 loss to Alabama. Circa Sports opened the Aggies as 15.5-point favorites at home, with the over/under set at 48.5 points.
Kentucky is working under a new coach in former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, and the first half against Alabama gave the Wildcats plenty to feel good about. Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace delivered a diving interception and turned it into a touchdown, and Kentucky went into halftime with a 17-13 lead. The second half was a different story, though, as Alabama shut them out 32-0.
Stein has reason for optimism, but Kentucky now has to respond to that collapse against a Texas A&M team that comes in looking like the stronger side.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Fast Start Vs Alabama Ended In A Brutal Second-Half Collapse
Kentucky looked in control early against No. 12 Alabama, jumping out with a fast start that suggested the Wildcats might be ready to land a statement win. Instead, the game flipped after halftime, when Alabama put together a relentless surge and Kentuckys offense never found its footing again.
The second half was especially rough for the Wildcats, who managed only three first downs and 62 total yards while Alabamas defense kept heat on the quarterback and forced multiple turnovers. Even after a shaky opening stretch, Alabamas quarterback settled down and helped guide the comeback, leaving Kentucky to sort through how a promising start unraveled so quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Showed Whats Still Missing Against Alabama
Kentucky had a rare opening against Alabama at Kroger Field, building a 17-13 halftime lead behind a defense that even found the end zone on MiQuise Humphrey-Graces pick-six. For a half, the Wildcats looked like a team ready to make the Crimson Tide uncomfortable, and Alabama helped them along with several penalties that kept the home side in front heading into the break.
The second half, though, reminded Kentucky how much remains between a promising moment and a complete performance. Alabama scored on five straight possessions after halftime and rolled to a 45-17 win, pushing Kentucky to its 40th loss in 43 meetings with the Crimson Tide. The game was another example of how a good first half can turn quickly when the Wildcats cannot sustain it against an opponent built to punish every opening. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Let Another Alabama Opportunity Slip Away Fast
For a half, Kentucky looked like it had another heavyweight SEC upset within reach at Kroger Field. The Wildcats built a 17-13 lead on the strength of timely defensive plays, including an interception returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble, and for a while the home crowd had every reason to believe Alabama might be staring at a familiar road problem.
Alabama changed the feel of the game quickly after halftime, taking the lead in the third quarter and then pulling away in a hurry. Kentucky never scored again, getting shut out the rest of the way as the Crimson Tide finished with a 45-17 win and left the Wildcats to wonder how quickly a promising afternoon can turn once the margin for error disappears. [Read more 🡒]