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The LSU Tigers are on the road once again in Week 9 as they play the most significant matchup of the season so far.
After dispatching Ole Miss and Arkansas in the last two weeks, coach Brian Kelly’s team is now set to square off with Texas A&M in a battle of the two lone unbeaten teams in conference play. The winner will claim sole possession of first place in the SEC entering the final month of the regular season.
This showdown in College Station has serious implications for both the SEC and College Football Playoff races. Here’s how analysts see Saturday’s matchup playing out in their predictions.
ESPN’s Rece Davis
On a recent episode of the “College GameDay Podcast,” the host of the popular pregame show of the same name said that he’s rolling with the Tigers, largely due to their improvement on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks.
“I really like LSU in that game,” Davis said, per On3. “I just don’t know because of some of the concerns that you brought up with Conner Weigman. I’m not sure I believe they can score enough and often enough, especially with LSU’s defensive improvement and some of the havoc that they’re causing under Blake Baker. I really like LSU to go into Kyle Field and win the game on Saturday night.”
ESPN’s Greg McElroy
On his “Always College Football” podcast, McElroy said that his biggest concern with the Tigers entering the game is whether they can take pressure off the passing game with rushing efficiency.
However, McElroy also worries about inconsistent play from Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman as well as the ability for Texas A&M’s talented defensive line to create pressure against Nussmeier, which opponents have struggled to do this season.
With that in mind, he thinks LSU will win the game by slowing down the run and forcing Weigman to beat it through the air.
ESPN’s Dan Mullen
The former SEC coach turned ESPN analyst sees the game a bit differently from his coworkers. He expects the Aggies to come into this game with something to prove and get the win in front of their home crowd.
“Well, Texas A&M’s going to come in and say, ‘Hey guys, we lost the first game of the season, everybody counted us out. Everybody’s saying we don’t have a chance this year. We get the opportunity to show them,’” Mullen said, per On3. “And I’m going to tell you what they need to do, they need to embrace this crowd in College Station. They’re going to be loud. They’re going to be boisterous.”
Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt
Not only does Klatt like the Tigers to win on the road in this game, but he was surprised to see the Aggies favored in the first place. He’s buying this LSU squad, and he thinks they win a dogfight under the lights at Kyle Field.
“First of all, I was shocked that A&M was favored in this game, I think LSU is going to win the game,” Klatt said. “They have a quarterback I trust more than the opposition, so even on the road, a guy that I believe has showed up in big moments in (Garrett) Nussmeier, I think he wins the game. Now, I don’t think they’re going to blow them out, but 27-24 LSU? You bet.”
USA TODAY Sports Panel
The USA TODAY Sports panel is split down the middle when it comes to this game. Three of its experts — Paul Myerberg, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken — picked the Tigers, while three more (Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith) are rolling with the Aggies.
ESPN Football Power Index
FPI tends to give the benefit of the doubt to the home team in close games, and that’s the case here. Texas A&M has the slightest of edges according to FPI and is given a 52.8% chance to win
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This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: College football analysts make picks for LSU-Texas A&M in Week 9