{"id":46076,"date":"2017-10-06T07:21:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-06T07:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=46076"},"modified":"2017-10-06T07:21:57","modified_gmt":"2017-10-06T07:21:57","slug":"no-1-alabama-visits-aggies-steamrolling-2-sec-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/no-1-alabama-visits-aggies-steamrolling-2-sec-teams.html","title":{"rendered":"No. 1 Alabama visits Aggies after steamrolling 2 SEC teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 1 Alabama visits Aggies after steamrolling 2 SEC teams<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

No. 1 Alabama visits Aggies after steamrolling 2 SEC teams:-Texas A&M has sweated out two close Southeastern Conference wins. Alabama has barely broken a sweat at all in batting aside its first two league opponents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, the top-ranked Crimson Tide visits Kyle Field as nearly four-touchdown favorites, trying to maintain that hot streak without letting those utterly one-sided games lead to overconfidence or complacency.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter Nick Saban, motivational speaker\/Crimson Tide coach.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Success is not a continuum, it’s momentary,” Saban said. “So what we did in the last two games really doesn’t mean anything in terms of what we’re going to do in the next game.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) obliterated Vanderbilt and Mississippi by a combined 125-3 to open its pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title. The offense and defense both lead the SEC in a number of statistical categories, including fewest points allowed and most points scored. Saban said the Aggies (4-1, 2-0) are the strongest all-around team the Tide has faced so far this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the home field, if Texas A&M has an advantage it’s that the Aggies have been in close games. They’ve beaten Arkansas (in overtime) and South Carolina by a touchdown apiece and also rebounded from a tough-to-swallow opening loss at UCLA .<\/span><\/p>\n

Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin said the mind-set shouldn’t change for his players just because a top-ranked opponent is coming to College Station.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They’re going to hear from everybody walking around that this is a different week when the reality is it’s not,” Sumlin said. “No matter what happens Saturday, we’re playing football the next week.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Alabama has won the last four meetings since the Johnny Manziel-led Aggies upset the top-ranked Tide in 2012, 29-24.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some things to watch in this game:<\/span><\/p>\n

MOBILE QBS<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Alabama’s Jalen Hurts , who’s from Houston, and Texas A&M freshman Kellen Mond are threats to run. Hurts is the SEC’s No. 5 rusher while Mond has also gained 252 yards. Mond has totaled 204 yards in the last two games.<\/span><\/p>\n

SACK PARTY<\/span><\/p>\n

Texas A&M’s defense has 13 sacks in the last two games, and Landis Durham is tied for the league lead with 5 1\/2. Alabama quarterbacks have only been sacked once in the last three games.<\/span><\/p>\n

MINKAH FITZPATRICK<\/span><\/p>\n

Two years ago, the then-freshman defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick became the first Tide player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game \u2014 against Texas A&M. Sumlin gives him high praise.<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Minkah Fitzpatrick, I think, should be not just on the Thorpe Award list, I think he should be on the Heisman list,” the Aggies coach said. “I think he’s one of the best players in the country.”<\/span><\/p>\n

DANGEROUS KIRK<\/span><\/p>\n

Alabama is wary of Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk as both a receiver and a return man. Kirk burned the Tide for a 68-yard touchdown on a punt return two years ago. He already has a 100-yard kick return this season and leads the Aggies in receiving once again.<\/span><\/p>\n

STREAKING A&M<\/span><\/p>\n

Saban gives Texas A&M credit for resiliency for winning four straight after blowing a 34-point second half lead against UCLA.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When you have a loss like A&M did in the opener and bounce back to get to 4-1, what does it say about them to get over that?” Saban said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaaf\/2017\/10\/06\/no-1-alabama-visits-aggies-after-steamrolling-2-sec-teams\/106357678\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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