The only matchup in the SEC between ranked teams will take place on Saturday afternoon when No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 16 Arkansas square off at AT&T Stadium in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week. The Aggies moved to 3-0 for the first time under coach Jimbo Fisher with a 34-0 win over New Mexico in Week 3. Quarterback Zach Calzada looked solid in his first start in place of Haynes King with 275 yards passing and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, the defense kept up its strong start in a wildly impressive shutout.
The Razorbacks have become one of the early-season darlings with a 3-0 record, including a big win over Texas. Their punishing rushing attack, led by star Trelon Smith, has been one of the most effective in the SEC. Smith leads a group averaging 282.33 yards per game on the ground and 6.09 yards per carry, both of which rank fourth in the conference.
What should you expect on Saturday in Jerry World? Let’s break down the game and make picks straight-up and against the spread.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas: Need to know
It’s on KJ: Texas A&M leads the nation in pass defense at 77.3 yards per game, and its defense as a whole is one of the deepest and most talented in the country. It will get its fair share of wins against Arkansas’ rushing attack, which means Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson will have to find a way to be a force through the air in order to spring the upset. Jefferson has just four touchdown passes and ranks eighth in the SEC with 22 passing plays of at least 10 yards. Simply put, it’ll be on Jefferson to keep Texas A&M’s defense honest so it can’t load up against the run.
An ailing Swiss Army Knife: Texas A&M junior wide receiver Ainias Smith has been a force as both a pass-catcher and a punt returner. He can also be used on jet sweeps and in creative formations in the back field. However, he got banged up just before halftime of the New Mexico win and didn’t return. Fisher said on Monday that Smith should be available, but it’s unclear how healthy he actually is. If Smith is good to go, look out. He’s the kind of player who can flip a game in a hurry. Arkansas’ defense will undoubtedly focus on running backs Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane, which means Smith could find himself in some advantageous situations.
Calzada’s development: It’s fair to give Calzada a mulligan for his performance against Colorado. After all, nobody expected King’s injury, and stepping up on the road in that environment is not an easy task. Calzada got into a groove last week, tossing two touchdowns in his first three passes and totaling 275 yards in a solid performance. More importantly, Fisher got a good glimpse of what his new starter can (and can’t) do after a full week of preparation. Consider last week a dress rehearsal for the main event.
How to watch Texas A&M vs. Arkansas live
Date: Saturday, Sept. 25 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas prediction, picks
Featured Game | Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Aggies
I’ll take the Aggies in a good ol’ fashioned slug fest. They’ll be able to slow down Arkansas’ running game enough to force Jefferson into uncomfortable passing situations, and a few major mistakes will drastically alter the outcome. Calzada will continue his development as a passer, especially off of play-action, and lead this team to a hard-fought win in Jerry World that covers the line. Prediction: Texas A&M (-5.5)
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