Texas A&M Aggies 2023 College Football Preview
August 3, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 5-7
ATS – 3-8-1
The Aggies were a disaster last season as they stumbled to a mark of 5-7 whilst playing an impossibly-boring brand of football in the process. The week two loss to Appalachian St proved to be a HARBINGER of things to come but nobody expected them to lose six (!) games in a row. They finished the year with a nice win over LSU (W 38-23) although the Tigers had already clinched the SEC West at that point.
Will Texas A&M get back to their winning ways in 2023?
Texas A&M Aggies 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
The offense was a disaster last year as they averaged a mere 22.8 PPG (2nd last SEC) and 361 YPG (#12). Things will be much improved this season as almost every starter returns on this side of the football and they’ve solidified the QB position (hopefully) given the emergence of Conner Weigman down the stretch LY (8-0 TD to INT). Backup Max Johnson has proven capable in limited action. Weigman has to be thrilled with his THROW GAME weaponry as the Aggies return their top-three (!) WRs and #1 TE Donovan Green. It’ll be great to have the versatile Ainias Smith healthy for an entire campaign (21 career TD). We’re not sure that the Aggies have a true #1 option at RB after the departure of 1,000-yard back Devon Achane but they’ve got a few highly-recruited specimens in the room as well as transfer beast David Bailey (Col St, BC). All five starters return up front and that’s great news for an offense looking to display more consistency and explosiveness.
DEFENSE
The Aggies yielded a respectable 21 PPG LY (#4 SEC) but their ACHILLES HEEL was a run defense that got run over and splattered for a good chunk of the season (209 YPG, dead last SEC). Ten starters are retained on defense and they’ve got the potential to make significant improvement in 2023. All four starters are back up front and the DL is CHOCK FULL of talented bodies. A small part of us wonders why they were SO BAD last year AND it’s the same cast of 18 STAR and 7 TOOL monsters in play this year. We’ll see what happens. The LB unit looks decent and the secondary will be solid despite losing a pair of players to the NFL Draft. Safety Demani Richardson is one of the best in the SEC (#1 tackler) and they added CB Tony Grimes from UNC who should grab a starting spot. The biggest worry for our DEEP SEC INSIDERS is the apparent lack of killer PENETRATORS as the Aggies tallied a mere 19 sacks in 2022 (2nd last SEC).
SPECIAL TEAMS
It stings to lose ace KR Devon Achane (28.4, TD) but at least the Aggies have continuity in the kicking game. PK Randy Bond was decent LY (13-17 FG, 25-25 XP) and punter Nik Constantinou was a 2nd Team SEC honoree in 2022 (41.7, 40.5).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Things look pretty good. They’ve got three LAYUPS in non-conference play but must travel to face YOUR Miami Hurricanes in week two. They’ve only got four true road games, miss Georgia from the East, and host ROLL TIDE in October.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – South Carolina (Oct 28)
This is a tricky schedule situation as they’ve gotta battle the COCKS after back-to-back contests with ROLL TIDE (H) and Tennessee (A). Also note that they’ve got a road trip to Ole Miss up next.
Season Win Total
Market consensus August 3
Over 8 -140
Under 8 +120
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
This is a very talented team and the schedule sets up nicely. There are a few nasty road games on the docket (LSU, Vols, Ole Miss) but we’d be very surprised if these guys lost five regular season games. If they finish 8-4 you get to PUSH IT, PUSH IT REAL GOOD.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Prior to the 2022 DEBACLE, the last time Texas A&M posted a losing record was way back in 2009 under the guidance of your pal Mike Sherman (6-7). Twelve consecutive winning seasons is nothing to sneeze at, yo.
Texas A&M has never played in an SEC Championship Game.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Aggies appear to be flying under the radar after last season’s disappointing result. This is a very experienced team on both sides of the football and they’ve got an embarrassment of riches in terms of high-octane recruits. Will these young players finally play up to expectations? That’s the $64,000 question. We tend to be BELIEVERS and just have a small bit of doubt about the QB situation. We’ll call for nine wins and they might be worth a wee SPRINKLE at big odds to win the SEC West. GIG ‘EM!