Texas A&M (9-0, 6-0 SEC) remains the No. 3-ranked team in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, even after blowing out a previously ranked Missouri team 38-17 on the road, just two weeks after destroying LSU 49-25 in Baton Rouge. Well, apparently, Indiana’s last-second win over Penn State, which is now 3-6 on the year, was more impressive than a 21-point win on the road against a ranked opponent.
Either way, head coach Mike Elko and his talented roster are focused on hosting South Carolina (3-6, 1-6 SEC) on Saturday afternoon, and on paper, the Aggies are 18-point favorites for a reason.
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After back-to-back 20-plus point road wins, Texas A&M’s 17th-ranked offense is averaging nearly 460 yards per game, led by starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s 2,193 yards and 19 touchdowns, combined with a 19th-ranked rushing offense that averages 204 yards per game.
After throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri, Reed has become a reliable pocket passer, making him one of the most dangerous players in college football, given his ability to outrun most defenses. Amid star running back Le’Veon Moss’s injury, sophomore Rueben Owens has stepped out and now leads the team with 542 yards and five touchdowns, including his 57-yard score on Saturday.
Defensively, Texas A&M’s No. 1-ranked third-down defense has continued to frustrate nearly every offense it faces, while the Aggie pass rush has generated 34 sacks, tied with rival Texas for the most in the country. However, the Aggies’ 43rd-ranked rush defense has been spotty, allowing Missouri running backs Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy to combine for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side, South Carolina has lived up to its poor record, and currently doesn’t rank in the top 100 in several key statistical categories. Offensively, starting quarterback La’Norris Sellers is averaging just 193 passing yards, while the Gamecocks’ run game is barely cracking 100 yards per game.
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However, South Carolina’s 47th-ranked defense is holding opponents to 344 yards per game, and the pass defense has consistently been a strength, allowing just over 190 passing yards, ranked just below A&M’s 32nd-ranked secondary. Still, OC Collin Klein will look to take advantage of the Gamecocks’ 83rd-ranked run defense, which is allowing 154 yards per contest.
Texas A&M will host South Carolina on Saturday, November 15, at an early 11:00 a.m. start, which will air on ESPN.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M and South Carolina’s strengths, weaknesses before Week 12
