This will be a defining game for an Aggies team that can’t afford another loss before even setting foot in conference play. A loss to the Canes will demoralize the already fragile team and could make this season a lost season. Meanwhile, Miami is still looking for a return to national prominence. A win over Texas A&M won’t exactly signal that, but a loss, considering Texas A&M’s reputation right now, would likely peg this current Miami team as more of a pretender than a contender. Let’s break down Saturday night’s contest and make picks straight up and against the spread.
Texas A&M vs. Miami: I need to know
Will there be a change at QB?: It’s safe to say that through four games as a starter dating back to last year, Aggies signal caller Haynes King hasn’t lived up to expectations. He has as many touchdown passes as interceptions (five) and his timing appears to have been off in both games in 2022. Will coach Jimbo Fisher take a chance and insert former LSU starter Max Johnson into the lineup? Friday’s reports say he will. That decision could not only determine the outcome of Saturday’s game, but the Aggies’ trajectory for the rest of the season. Miami needs to start faster: The Hurricanes trailed Southern Miss 7-3 late in the first half before Henry Parrish Jr. punched in their first touchdown of the game with 20 seconds left in the second quarter. Miami pulled away late, but this will be a completely different animal Saturday night at Kyle Field. “I thought we got off to a sluggish start, like we mentioned before and then at the end of the first half, I think five of our last six plays we hit, though both of them were field goals, and then we had a turnover,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “We were able to make two runs that were self-inflicted situations and situations where we had a penalty that we could have avoided.” It’s one thing to get off to a slow start at home for a team that doesn’t fit the bill. It’s a completely different thing to have one on the road in prime time against a team desperate to get back on the national stage. It will be fascinating to see how Miami tries to get quarterback Tyler Van Dyke into a groove early to avoid digging himself too big a hole. Van Dyke vs. Aggie secondary: Texas A&M leads the SEC in pass defense (112.5 YPG), which was to be expected considering the talent it has in the backfield. This secondary will have its toughest challenge of the year when it faces Van Dyke. The sophomore has completed 73.9 percent of his passes this year, averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. It will be interesting to see how creative Texas A&M defensive coordinator DJ Durkin knows that Van Dyke is capable of taking over the game with a clean pocket.
How to watch Texas A&M vs. Miami live
Date: Saturday, September 17 | Time: 9 p.m. ETPlace: Kyle Field — College Station, TexasTV: ESPN | Live Stream: fuboTV (Try Free)
Texas A&M vs. Miami prediction, picks
Featured Game | Texas A&M Aggies vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
This will come down to a battle of generals, and the winner of this battle is clear. Van Dyke is more talented, has better protection and more weapons outside of Johnson. Van Dyke and the Hurricanes offense will set the pace, resulting in this game being played in the 30’s. Texas A&M won’t be able to hang. Texas A&M’s multiple mistakes in the second half will not only give Miami the cover, but an outright win. Prediction: Miami (+5.5) Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 3, and which favorites will fall hard? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned nearly $3,400 in profit over the past six-plus seasons — and find out.
