The Georgia Bulldogs (9-1) are one of the few SEC teams this week in a conference matchup as they host
the tricky Texas A&M Aggies (7-3).By Steve WrightÂ
Stop the run
This Texas A&M team is ranked way too low. Their three losses on the season are to Auburn, Clemson,
and Alabama, they have beaten everyone else on the schedule and Jimbo Fisher is making a difference
in College Station.
It is important to note that the Aggies have been held under 125 yards rushing four times this year and
that they have lost three of those games. If you remove the weird game against Arkansas as an outlier, it
becomes clear that stopping the run – and thus making Kellen Mond one dimensional – is the way to
beat this team. The Georgia defense has been exceptional with only Vandy, South Carolina, and
Kentucky going for more than 100-yards in a game. This is the single key that will decide the game.
Try to control tempo
These are a pair of teams that like to play physical, old-school football in a world of spread offenses and
four-WR sets. Both schools want to own time of possession and set the tempo, so it is important that
Auburn is able to do so on Saturday. That means limiting the number of drives that last just three to six
plays, keeping the defense off of the field and fresh for the second half which is when the game will be
decided. The Aggies want to grind it out. The Bulldogs have to do that better.
A big game from Jake Fromm
Removing the South Carolina game as an aberration, Fromm has been exactly what Georgia has needed
this season. Sure, it would be nice to see more of a downfield passing game, but what he does well is
make the key throws to compliment the running game and – especially – the defense he is working with.
Fromm knows he doesn’t have to win games most weeks, he just has to not lose them. He has thrown
for seven touchdowns and no picks in his last three games and he will need to be at that level here as
mistakes will be amplified in what should be a tight game.
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