College Game of The Week: #15 Texas A&M at #24 Ole Miss
Most of the time it’s safe to assume when two ranked teams go head-to-head, the higher ranked team is going to win, but not this week: With #15 Texas A&M coming off their first loss of the season (to Alabama, 41-23) and Ole Miss coming off their second loss of the season (they lost to Florida in week 5) to unranked Memphis, there was no way we couldn’t choose #15 Texas A&M at #24 Ole Miss as our College Game of The Week. Plus, this is the only matchup in all of college football this week that includes two ranked teams, so… it was a no-brainer.
Texas A&M and Ole Miss have played seven times, and history is decidedly in A&M’s favor: the Rebels beat the Aggies in College Station 35-20 last season, but the Aggies have won the previous six encounters.
Despite throwing only two interceptions in 139 pass attempts this season, Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen’s confidence may be shaken after last week, when he was intercepted three times, all of which were returned for touchdowns.
Important note on Ole Miss' huge 43-37 win over Alabama a few weeks back: Despite Alabama having more yards, more clock time, and more first downs, Ole Miss had exactly zero turnovers while ‘Bama had five. When A&M faced the Tide and lost, it was the same story with a different outcome, except 'Bama only one turnover, while A&M had four.
If A&M can hang onto the ball – or if they can force Ole Miss to turn it over – then they have a good chance of locking the game away. Plus, it feels like A&M is still proving they can hang with the rough-and-tough big boys in the SEC.
If the weight of this game wasn’t enough to begin with, this has now become an elimination round for the SEC Championship game. While it’s not totally out of the question the loser could make the championship game, it is unlikely. But, hey, this whole season has been littered with surprises.
Watch #15 Texas A&M at #24 Ole Miss at 7pm ET Saturday on ESPN.
Other games on Sling TV this weekend: (all times Eastern)
Friday
#18 Memphis at Tusla, 8pm, ESPN
Utah State at San Diego State, 10:30pm, ESPN2
Saturday
Auburn vs Arkansas, 12pm, SEC Network
Northwestern at Nebraska, 12pm, ESPN2
#21 Houston at UCF, 12pm, ESPNews
Iowa State at #2 Baylor, 12pm, ESPN
#25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse, 12pm, ESPNU
Indiana at #7 Michigan State, 3:30pm, ESPN2
Penn State vs Maryland, 3:30pm, ESPN
#23 Duke at Virginia Tech, 3:30pm, ESPNU
Texas Tech at #17 Oklahoma, 3:30pm, ESPN2
SMU at South Florida, 4pm, ESPNU
Missouri vs Vanderbilt, 4pm, SEC Network
Western Kentucky at #5 LSU, 7pm, ESPNU
#15 Texas A&M at #24 Ole Miss, 7pm, ESPN
#9 Florida State at Georgia Tech, 7pm, ESPN2
Kentucky vs Mississippi State, 7:30pm, SEC Network
Wyoming at Boise State, 10:15pm, ESPN2
Washington at #10 Stanford, 10:30pm, ESPN