Aggies vs. Razorbacks: Week 5 Staff Predictions
For the Texas A&M Aggies, a win heading into a home matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide is an ideal scenario.
Coach Jimbo Fisher, now in his sixth season is dealing with multiple offensive injuries, leaving the Aggies in need of a step-up players if they want to pull off a win against the Arkansas Razorbacks once more in Arlington.
The Razorbacks won't be taking this matchup lightly, which could spell trouble if the Aggies don't find and maintain a rhythm. So, ahead of Texas A&M's Week 5 matchup against Arkansas, here are All Aggies' staff predictions:
Andrew Dieb, USA TODAY Sports
Timm Hamm, Writer:
This is not last year's Aggies. Or the year before. This is a new team with a good quarterback and an accomplished offensive coordinator. The defense is still the defense. Arkansas will have fallen off a little bit this year while the Aggies will be moving up the SEC ladder. This one shouldn't be close.
Prediction: Texas A&M 37, Arkansas 14
Cole Thompson, Staff Writer:
Death, taxes and close calls in Arlington are three things you can expect when the Southwest Classic occurs at AT&T Stadium. Since the game moved to Jerryworld in 2014, seven matchups have been decided by 10 points or fewer, with three games being decided in overtime. That's not going to change in 2023, either. While Hogs might have a pair of Heisman sleepers commanding the backfield in K.J. Jefferson and Raheim Sanders, A&M's defensive line should be exponentially better defending the run. Bold call: Ainias Smith gets his revenge on the turf with a punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Aggies a four-point win.
Prediction: Texas A&M 27, Arkansas 23
Casey Smith, Staff Writer:
Texas A&M is currently listed as 3.5-point favorites against Arkansas, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Aggies have owned the Southwest Classic in recent years, winning 10 of the last 11 against the Razorbacks who won a thrilling 55-53 victory AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Kansas to put a bow on their 7-6 season. Arkansas returns quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who threw for at least 220 yards in five of its seven wins a season ago, headlined by a 367-yard, five-touchdown performance against BYU. If Texas A&M's top recruits in the 2021-22 classes in defensive linemen Shemar Turner and Walter Nolen, respectively, can help create chaos at the line of scrimmage and keep Jefferson uncomfortable in the pocket, the Aggies will be in business.
Prediction: Texas A&M 27, Arkansas 21
Matt Guzman, Staff Writer:
It's been years since the Arkansas Razorbacks won two in a row against Texas A&M. The Aggies have just proven to be the better team — or at the very least, the scrappier one — and this year will be no exception. Jimbo Fisher, though he hasn't achieved everything the Aggies hoped he would, is being paid as much money as he is for a reason. He's a strong sideline leader, and he'll be coming back with a vengeance after last season's meltdown. That being said, the Aggies only won two SEC games last year, and Arkansas was one of them. K.J. Jefferson will have a great game, as will Raheim Sanders, but Conner Weigman and Texas A&M's offense will do just enough to pull out the win before facing Alabama. Even if it comes down to a last-second field goal.
Prediction: Texas A&M 23, Arkansas 21
