Texas A&M desperately needs a turnaround against Arkansas, and the experts believe the Aggies will get it despite an ugly 0-2 start in SEC play.
Texas A&M football has reached the point where simply being favored isn’t going to make Aggies fans feel comfortable.
The Aggies host Arkansas on Saturday night at Kyle Field carrying a 2-2 record, an 0-2 SEC mark and plenty of questions after consecutive losses to Kentucky and LSU.
Yet despite Texas A&M’s rough September finish, the national predictions are leaning heavily in Mike Elko’s direction.
In fact, the group of experts surveyed for the matchup is unanimous: Texas A&M over Arkansas.
That confidence requires a little faith after what happened in Baton Rouge.
A&M managed only 197 total yards in a 35-6 loss to LSU, with quarterback Marcel Reed completing 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards.
The Aggies failed to score a touchdown, leaving kicker David Olano to provide all six points.
It followed a 31-21 home loss to Kentucky in which Reed threw for 236 yards and rushed for another 80, but A&M surrendered 24 second-half points.
Elko didn’t attempt to minimize the LSU performance afterward.
“We’re not playing football at nearly a good enough level,” Elko said. “We’ve got to find them, and we’ve got to find them fast.”
Saturday would be a pretty good time.
Arkansas is also 2-2, but the Razorbacks arrive with some momentum following a 34-6 demolition of Tulsa.
Quarterback KJ Jackson threw for 309 yards, while former Texas A&M receiver Chris Marshall exploded for nine catches, 195 yards and a touchdown.
That combination presents an obvious problem for an Aggies defense that has surrendered more than 400 yards in each of its first two SEC games.
Still, history favors A&M.
The Aggies have beaten Arkansas four consecutive times and have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
They’ll also get the Razorbacks inside Kyle Field rather than at the neutral-site setting that defined this rivalry for years.
Jay Arnold of Good Bull Hunting, Jackson Fuller of the Southwest Times Record, ESPN SP+ analyst Bill Connelly, Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon and College Football News’ Pete Fiutak all picked Texas A&M.
That’s a strong vote of confidence. Now the Aggies have to prove they deserve it.
