It’s college football game day, and with that a great slate of games. One of the best ones being LSU @ Texas A&M, this game is a top 15 match up and one of the hardest environments to play in college football, especially at night (kickoff at 730Pm ET). Texas A&M is a -2.5 point favorite but the tigers have faced a tougher schedule so far in the season. Both of these teams have a big home win against a top 10 opponent Ole Miss @ LSU, and Missouri @ A&M.

Both teams are undefeated in SEC play and whoever wins this game will be first place in the SEC. They essentially will have a ticket into the SEC championship and playoff if they win out the rest of their season. This game is the biggest this season for these two teams. It will dictate the momentum and the narrative of these teams moving forward.

Keys for A&M:

With LSU visiting, A&M has a very easy course of action to winning this game, crowd needs to be loud. Disrupting communication and making the LSU offensive line jump can be key to this game as what happened for LSU @ Arkansas last week, 7 false start penalties in the first half. Do that, and the LSU offense will have a problem getting going.

The only thing A&M really needs to do to win this game is their defensive line has to get pressure on Nussmeier. If A&M can consistently do that and get in the head of Nussmeier, it will be over. Nussmeier can be a little jittery in the pocket if he is constantly worried about if a guy is rushing him on his blind side. The battle in the trenches this game is what will dictate the ball game in my eyes. LSU has a better offense than A&M, but A&M has a better defense, specially a fantastic front seven. If those guys win and get home, LSU is going to be in for a long night.

LSU Keys to the game:

For LSU visiting, this is a big obstacle to over come and specifically the crowd. If LSU can start fast and keep the crowd at A&M out of it just like they did at Arkansas. This game will be a victory. However, this is a different animal than Arkansas and it is not going to be as easy as last week. If the crowd of A&M is quiet it gives Nussmeier the freedom to think and to stay calm in the pocket, something that compliments his game whenever he has it.

The defensive line for LSU has to cook. Meaning Bradyn Swinson, the guy who was talking some smack over this past week, he needs to get home on Connor Weigman at least twice. Weigman, is by no means a great quarterback but he can shine if given confidence. When A&M played Mississippi State last week, Weigman threw 2 picks and could have potentially thrown 3 more but they were dropped by Mississippi state. If LSU, and specifically the LSU front 7 can cause havoc up front and show similar schemes to Arkansas, LSU can win.

Essentially, LSU needs to start hot, keep the A&M cult out of the game, and the defensive line, play with a fire on your head similar to that Ole Miss game. Whoever wins this game will have won it because of their defensive line getting to the opposing quarterback.

My final prediction, I think LSU wins the game, after watching Connor Weigman the past two weeks, I do think LSU will force multiple turnovers for A&M giving LSU the hand in the game. I can’t see the defensive line of A&M consistently beating LSU offensive line, as no one has done it this season. LSU has gone up against great defensive lines South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Arkansas and they all came up empty handed when it came down to sacking Nussmeier. I think LSU is a better team than people are thinking, and the defense of LSU has gotten better every week, which is a dangerous trait. Final predictions LSU 34-17 A&M