An intriguing SEC matchup begins this weekend as No. 10 Texas A&M hits the road against rival South Carolina on Saturday night. Here’s what you need to watch out for, along with our updated prediction for the game.

What can we expect as the Gamecocks and Aggies face off in this SEC clash?

Here’s what to watch for as South Carolina and Texas A&M face off in this Week 10 college football game, along with our updated predictions.

1. On the ground. Texas A&M comes into the game ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 10 in the FBS, averaging 5.31 yards per carry with 21 touchdowns. South Carolina ranks No. 3 in the SEC and No. 16 nationally against the run, allowing 102 yards per game and 2.82 yards per rush, but allowing 10 touchdowns.

2. Fight on the lines. Both of these teams lead on the defensive side of the ball, with Texas A&M averaging 2.38 sacks per game and 19 sacks on the year, while South Carolina ranks 3rd with 28 total sacks and an average of 4 per game.

Carolina ranks 13th in the nation with 57 strikeouts this season and an average of 8.14 strikeouts per game, while A&M ranks 13th with 57 total TFLs and an average of 7.13 negative plays per game, which ranks 15th in the country.

But there is one notable weakness in the trenches: The Gamecocks rank 130th out of 134 FBS teams allowing 64 tackles for loss all year, 133rd with 4.57 sacks surrendered per game and 32 total sacks, and 9.14 negative plays per game. It ranks last in the country in terms of permits. game. Advantage, Aggies.

3. Who is the QB? Texas A&M needs to decide between last week’s starter Conner Weigman and the player he benched, dual-threat Marcel Reed, whose 3 rushing touchdowns spurred the Aggies’ comeback win over LSU.

Weigman is a primary passing option despite completing just 56.9 percent of his throws, and there are concerns about a group of A&M receivers who have been inconsistent this season.

Mike Elko’s decision: Play a more one-dimensional, run-centered offense with Reed that could double his production, or give Weigman another chance to spread the offense and give the Gamecock defense more looks?

So far this season both teams are on par. 9.9 points better greater than the opponent when calculating scoring margins in wins and losses.

However, these averages differed in the last three games: Texas A&M, 18.7 points better Carolina’s average tied for opponents 0.0 points.

Gamecocks at home 5 points better On average relative to the Aggies’ opponents. 9 points better compared to other teams when playing away.

Overall this season Texas A&M is in the average 29.4 points per game and against South Carolina’s defense, which ranks 43rd in the FBS in that category. 18.7 points per game14th in the nation.

In terms of yardage, the Aggies rank 70th in the nation. 382.9 yards per game While the Gamecocks ranked 10th in the nation in surrender. 298.3 yards per game On average.

By measuring production in real time, Texas A&M ranks 40th in the FBS. 0.437 points per game On average, South Carolina ranks 11th in surrender rankings 0.263 points per game.

A&M averages 5.7 yards per play Offense is good for 58th in the FBS this year, but the Gamecocks are 5th on defense. 4.2 yards per play.

While Texas A&M is ranked 35th in the country, the chains are moving and things are stabilizing at third 43.62 percent Among opportunities, Carolina ranks 38th in surrender rankings. 34.31 percent conversion success in defence.

In the red zone, the Aggies are nearly unstoppable and scoring. 96.97 percent Chances inside the opponent’s 20 yard line 72.73 percent While most of those scores are scored, South Carolina ranks 41st in points allowed. 80 percent There is a chance in a goal position.

South Carolina averages 28.6 points per game This season, they rank 49th nationally in that category compared to the Texas A&M defense, which ranks 19th in turnovers. 19.6 points per game.

In total yards, the Gamecocks rank 95th nationally. 346.9 yards per game Against an Aggies defense ranked No. 43 in surrenders. 346.4 yards per game On average.

Carolina is ranked 59th in the country. 0.387 points per game while Texas A&M has this season off. 0.286 points per game On average, it ranks 20th nationally.

The Gamecocks are averaging 116th out of 134 FBS teams per snap. 4.7 yards per play offensively, against the Aggies defense. 5.1 yards per play.

South Carolina struggles on a third-down offense and ranks 110th in the FBS in moving the chains. 33.01 percent opportunities. A&M enables competitors to transform 31.25 percent of your time.

Carolina scored 19 of 23 red zone opportunities. 82.61 percent success rate in goal position. 12 of these 19 scores were touchdowns (52.17 percent).

Texas A&M allows opponents to score 17 times out of 19 red zone opportunities 89.47 percent success and 10 of those 17 scores were touchdowns.

Most analytical models favor the Aggies to beat the Gamecocks on the road.

This includes the College Football Power Index, a computer forecasting model that uses data points from both teams to simulate games 20,000 times to pick winners.

Texas A&M expected to win this road game 54.1 percent One of the computer’s latest matchmaking simulations.

This leaves South Carolina as the likely winner in the remaining race 45.9 percent from the sims.

These narrow margins are also reflected in the game’s FPI points projection.

Texas A&M expected to be fair 1.5 points better According to the model’s latest prediction, the current composition of both teams is on the same field from South Carolina.

Texas A&M is a narrow 2.5 point favorite against South Carolina, according to updated lines posted on FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel lists the total at: 43.5 points for the game (Over -114, Under -106).

And here’s how he set the cap rates for Texas A&M: -140 and for South Carolina +116 To win for sure.

What the Aggies can do well offensively, the Gamecocks are good at stopping.

Texas A&M offers convincing running the ball and has improved its blocking effort in recent weeks, but the Gamecocks have the bodies to clog interior running lanes and apply tremendous pressure from both ends to tighten the pocket.

Columbia can get crazy, especially when the sun goes down, and that noise could throw the Aggies off the schedule early, especially if they struggle to throw the ball again.

But South Carolina isn’t that much of a threat moving the ball, hasn’t proven capable enough to guard itself up front, and is struggling with penalties that could further unbalance this offense.

College Football HQ selections…

More… Texas A&M vs. South Carolina point prediction based on expert model

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Match odds are updated periodically and may change.

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