Texas A&M heads back to Kyle Field on Saturday with plenty to sort out and a ranked Tennessee team standing in the way.
The Aggies are 4-5 and trying to snap a four-game skid against SEC opponents after a 17-9 loss at South Carolina. That defeat was Texas A&M’s fifth in six conference games, and the offense remains the biggest issue for Mike Elko’s group.
Now the Aggies get another tough test, this time against No. 9 Tennessee, which comes in at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC.
Tennessee arrives with momentum after a 34-6 win over Kentucky. The Volunteers pulled away by scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half, and DeSean Bishop did plenty of the damage with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Even with the game in College Station, Texas A&M is listed as the underdog. Tennessee is favored by 2.5 points, a number that reflects both the Aggies’ recent offensive inconsistency and the Volunteers’ strong showing against Kentucky. For Texas A&M, though, this is also a chance to land a statement win and give itself some confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Kyle Field, with ESPN carrying the game nationally.
The injury picture is worth watching on both sides. Texas A&M lists Mario Craver and Aaron Bethel-Roman as uncertain, while Terry Bussey, Madden Williams, Tiger Riden and Chase Sims are out for the season.
Tennessee has Tyree Weathersby marked uncertain after an apparent lower-body injury against Kentucky. These are only preliminary notes, with updated reports expected later in the week.
The Aggies’ key names include KJ Edwards, Aaron Gregory, TJ Searcy, Dalton Brooks and David Olano. Tennessee’s list features George MacIntyre, DeSean Bishop, Mike Matthews, Daune Morris, Arion Carter and Qua Moss.
The matchup comes down to whether Texas A&M can find enough offense to keep pace. The Aggies managed just nine points against South Carolina, and finishing drives has been a recurring problem.
Tennessee, meanwhile, has balance on offense with George MacIntyre at quarterback and Bishop powering the run game. Bishop has already gone over 1,000 rushing yards this season, and the Volunteers also bring a defense that can pressure quarterbacks and force turnovers.
Texas A&M will need KJ Edwards and Rueben Owens II to help establish the run, while Marcel Reed has to take care of the football and create something through the air. Kyle Field should help, but Tennessee’s ground game gives the Volunteers the edge.
Texas A&M should bring urgency at home, but it will take a major offensive step forward to knock off a Top 10 opponent.
Prediction: Tennessee 24, Texas A&M 20
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The bigger question heading into Tennessee is who Reed will have available to throw to. Wide receivers Ashton Bethel-Roman and Kelshaun Johnson both sat out the South Carolina game, and Mike Elko did not provide any updates on their status, leaving their availability uncertain as the Aggies keep searching for answers at receiver. Offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins is expected to remain in place for the rest of the season, so for now the focus shifts to whether Texas A&M can get healthier in time to give Reed a fuller set of options. [Read more 🡒]