Texas A&M (7-2 straight up, 3-6 against the spread) had its seven-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday night in a 44-20 loss at South Carolina as a three-point road favorite. The Aggies saw the ‘over’ cash in a fourth straight game when the 64 combined points soared North of the 44-point total.
Despite the loss, Mike Elko’s team is still in a first-place tie atop the SEC standings with Georgia, as both schools share 5-1 records in league play. Tennessee is 4-1 in SEC action, leaving it one-half game back of the conference leaders. Texas and LSU are 3-1 in SEC games.
If Texas A&M is going to remain in contention for its first trip to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship Game, it’ll have to do so without its leading rusher. Le’Veon Moss sustained a leg injury against the Gamecocks and will miss the rest of the season.
In nine games, Moss had 765 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and a 6.3 yards-per-carry average. He also had 10 catches for 141 yards.
Elko’s team lost sophomore RB Rueben Owens, who started five games and produced 385 rushing yards and three TDs as a true freshman in 2023, to a season-ending injury during training camp back in August.
Nevertheless, the Aggies still have a proven veteran RB in junior Amari Daniels, who has 466 rushing yards, six TDs and a 5.0 YPC average this year. He also has five receptions for 59 yards.
Daniels ran for a team-best 532 rushing yards and six TDs last season. He had a 5.1 YPC average.
EJ Smith, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, has played in eight games for Texas A&M this year. Smith has 107 rushing yards on 33 totes for a 3.2 YPC average.
Texas A&M has an open date in Week 11 before hosting New Mexico St. on Nov. 16. The Aggies finish the year with games at Auburn and at home vs. Texas.
FanDuel has Texas A&M with the fifth-shortest odds (+1200 or 12/1) to win the SEC Championship Game. Georgia is the +150 ‘chalk,’ followed by Texas (+200), Tennessee (+700) and LSU (11/1).