In what is the biggest game on Texas A&M football’s slate, the Aggies head to Clemson to take on the Tigers. Here’s everything you need to know.
A season ago, this was one of the most exciting games of the season with Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond shining as the game ticked down to the final minutes.
Now, very few people are giving the Aggies a chance and are sure that the Tigers will roll on Saturday afternoon in Death Valley. In a game that could define the season for both of these teams, there is quite a bit to be excited about.
Here is how you can catch the matchup:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
For Clemson, it really just has to play its game fully and completely. There is no question that they have the least to prove on Saturday afternoon, so it’s just about reminding people why they won the national championship a year ago.
Travis Etienne needs to continue to do what he’s been doing and Trevor Lawrence needs to clean things up for sure, throwing two interceptions in the season opener. Their defense will also have to figure out a way to stop or at least slowdown Mond and his receivers, something they struggled to pull off a season ago.
For Texas A&M, the keys are much more intricate. First of all, Mond has to be incredibly accurate and quite basically historic. This has to be his performance that no one forgets, think Johnny Football at Alabama in 2012 kind of performance. The secondary has to show up like they did against Texas State and grab those turnovers if Trevor Lawrence puts them out there. Those will go a long way in putting together a win for sure.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of Bovada
Line: Clemson -16.5
Over/under: 64.5
Prediction
This won’t be an Aggie win, but it will be a lot closer than people think. These teams have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and it won’t be a blow out in any sense of the word. Look for both wide receiving units to really ball out and show what they are made of in a game that comes down to field position and a couple big plays in the fourth quarter.
Final Score: Clemson 35, Texas A&M 31