Saturday, Oct. 26
7:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Pacific
ABC
The LSU Tigers lost their season opener to USC in Las Vegas. Given that USC is now 3-4 and has endured a miserable season, you might think that LSU would have continued to struggle after that loss to the Trojans. For a few weeks, that was true … but then something changed within the LSU program. The team got tougher and stronger. The defense didn’t become as leaky or unreliable. Brian Kelly made progress with his roster. LSU was able to contain Ole Miss’s potent offense, keep the game close, and rally late for a thrilling victory which has catapulted the Tigers to the top of the SEC – they haven’t lost a conference game yet this season – and the middle of the College Football Playoff race.
There are six SEC teams with 6-1 records. LSU is one of them, firmly in the hunt for a spot in the SEC Championship Game. If LSU can go into College Station and beat Texas A&M – another one of those 6-1 SEC teams – the Tigers’ SEC title and CFB Playoff odds will rise considerably. There are a number of games in Week 9 with very high stakes, and this is at the top of the list.
One of the details of this game which hits you right between the eyes is that both LSU and A&M lost their openers. While LSU lost to USC, A&M lost to Notre Dame. If Brian Kelly has made the Tigers better after Week 1, Mike Elko has done the same with the Aggies. Now, one of the two will lose a second time in 2024. The other will enter November believing it can compete for the biggest prizes in the sport. Late-October games don’t get much bigger than this.
LSU Tigers-Texas A&M Aggies Odds
Spread: LSU +2.5 (-105), Texas A&M -2.5 (-115)
Total: 53.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: LSU +114
Hear T.J. and Gary breakdown LSU’s chances for the upset off the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Huge Step Forward For The Winner
The conspicuous aspect of this matchup is that neither team has been dominant on a consistent basis. Yes, A&M did demolish Missouri, but Mizzou has been exposed as a mediocre team, contrary to its lofty preseason ranking. A&M played a very ordinary game last week against a bad Mississippi State team. It’s true that the Aggies were likely looking ahead to LSU, but it remains that they have not been overwhelmingly powerful. They have been good, but not transcendent.
LSU trailed Ole Miss for large portions of that thriller on Oct. 12. The Tigers showed great resilience but were not in control of the action for much of that battle. This makes LSU-A&M a clash of resourceful teams, but not heavyweight teams.
There’s a lot to play for, but some college football games feel like Frazier-Ali fights. Ohio State-Oregon, to offer an example, felt like a big-boy game. LSU and A&M are good teams in position to play for something bigger, but this doesn’t feel like a “meeting on the mountaintop” the way other college football games do. We mention this to emphasize the point that these are not elite teams. They’re good – maybe very good – but not elite, at least not until they show us something more. Precisely because they haven’t yet shown us something more, neither team is reliable enough to deserve your bet and your money. You should use this game to learn more about LSU and A&M so that you can make a more informed bet on them later in the season.