No. 14 Texas A&M looks to keep its unbeaten season alive on Saturday when it hosts No. 21 Mississippi State at 7:30PM ET on the SEC Network.
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The 21st-ranked Bulldogs are led by quarterback Dak Prescott, who has completed nearly 67 percent of his passes for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns.
But Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said during his Tuesday press conference that way of viewing the Aggies is also known as the wrong way.
These two teams have been involved in a few of the most exciting games in the SEC this season, and expect this matchup to be right up there with the best of them.
On the season, Texas A&M average 285.0 yards in passing and 186.5 yards in rushing.
MSU allowed 389 yards, but it made plays when it mattered.
So, yes, Sumlin has to prepare to defeat Prescott on the field, but that doesn’t stop him from admiring the Bulldogs’ quarterback off of it.
Less than an hour after Johnny Manziel walked off the field in College Station, Texas, for the last time, bobcats and backhoes infiltrated Kyle Field to begin a $450 million renovation. But the Bulldogs have just 112 rushing attempts through four games, which is the lowest amount in the league.
Prescott believes the Bulldogs can turn back into a running team if needed.
We know one thing: The underdog role suits them perfectly.
The Haughton, Louisiana, native has rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries this season (two touchdowns).
Texas A&M has allowed 179.2 yards rushing per game. Prescott has thrown 191 straight passes without an interception, a school record and the longest current streak in the nation. From the 6-foot-5 De’Runnya Wilson to Fred Ross, the team leader in receptions (22) and receiving yards (219), Prescott has the weapons to take on the A&M defense plus the ability to find and exploit mistakes. Passing yards will be plenty in this one, and MSU needs to prevent 15 yard gains from turning into 50 yard touchdowns.
“He’s been calm, and the look in his eye is real good”, Sumlin said. “He’s an outstanding athlete, runs the ball extremely well, throws the ball extremely well”.
The game might be decided in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-3, 277-pounder leads the team and is third in the SEC with 7½ tackles for a loss and also has 3½ sacks. The Bulldogs have won two straight, including a win over Auburn, since a 21-19 loss to LSU on September 12. Last week, the Aggies were dominated both through the air and on the ground by the Razorbacks’ offense.
Sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett leads Texas A&M with six-and-a-half sacks, while junior defensive tackle Daeshon Hall has four.
The Bulldogs are best in the SEC at stopping opponents on third down.
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Dak Prescott and Kyle Allen both put up prolific numbers at the quarterback position, but the Aggies’ defensive shortcomings are the difference in a narrow Bulldogs victory.
