'This Is Texas A&M's Time': Aggies Have Prime Opportunity To Upset Alabama Crimson Tide
This is the Texas A&M Aggies' best chance to put themselves in the driver's seat for a West Division title in the Southeastern Conference.
Both the Aggies and No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide are 4-1 and 2-0 in conference play, and the winner of Saturday's matchup will take sole possession of first place in the West division. CBS Sports' Josh Pate weighed in on Saturday's heavyweight matchup, and picked Texas A&M to beat the Crimson Tide for the second-consecutive time at Kyle Field.
"I think this is Texas A&M's time, and I think they are a surging football team," Pate said on "Late Kick" Tuesday. "I think Bama may be as well, but I don't know if that second half [against Ole Miss] is just a second half last week. I keep going back to: Bama on the road the last couple of years and how they haven't looked like vintage Bama teams."
Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Jardin Gilbert (20) chases down Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton (3) during their game at Bryant-Denny Stadium Oct. 8, 2022.
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Alabama hasn't played up to its standard this season, losing to Texas at home. Pate said the Longhorns' physicality overmatched the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium, something he noted he's never seen before.
He believes Texas A&M has "those kind of horses" to contend with Alabama as well. The Aggies also won't have to compete against a hostile crowd with the 12th Man in their corner.
Pate said the "execution" as well as "speed and physicality" the Crimson Tide exhibited in the second half against the Rebels Sept. 23 would compensate for their offensive deficiencies.
Alabama's scoring offense is ranked 51st — its lowest-ranked unit since 2007. The Crimson Tide's No. 88 total offense is the worst they have been since finishing 97th in that category in 2004.
While head coach Nick Saban has had overwhelming success against his former assistant coaches, his first two losses to them both came in 2021 against Jimbo Fisher and Kirby Smart. Fisher has a chance to do that again, as Saban lost to Steve Sarkisian earlier this year.
Pate said in years past, the Crimson Tide would be the ones to emerge in a "fight" when they were criticized. However, this year, he feels is different. Pate isn't impressed with the Crimson Tide's performance so far this year until they prove him wrong.
