Kirk Herbstreit: Texas A&M is a bigger threat to beat Alabama than LSU is

quote:

---

I'll say it right now. Texas A&M is more of a threat to Alabama than LSU is. I think A&M next week is more of a threat to Alabama than LSU is even though it's in Tuscaloosa. The reason why I say that is because of Johnny Manziel and because of the style of offense A&M runs. LSU is going to line up in an I formation and average 0.3 yards per carry against Alabama. The only chance you have against Alabama's size is to spread them from sideline to sideline and try to make plays in coverage against them and when things break down, when you have an athletic, mobile QB, that gives you a fighting chance. If you don't have that and Zach Mettenberger runs a 6.3, he's not going to do anything back there. He's Bernie Kosar. He's not going to be able to make things happen with his feet and because of that, LSU's only chance is they got to win with defense and creating turnovers. A&M can hold up defensively and they can give you some problems with their offense. I think A&M beats Mississippi State and that'll set up a big showdown next week in Tuscaloosa that not a lot of people nationally are even thinking about but A&M by the end of the day could give Alabama their biggest test that they'll face all year until maybe they get to Atlanta in the SEC Championship Game.

---