Predicting the 2020 SEC Football Season: Texas A&M Aggies

WEEK 2, OCT 3: TAMU AGGIES

In the second installment of our wild blind dart-throwing predictions, we travel to Aggieland and Year 3 of the Jimbo experiment.

Coach: Jimbo Fisher (17-9, SEC 9-7, two years at TAMU; 100-32 overall)

2019 record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC, 4th in the West Division)

CB969 2019 Prediction: 9-3 “A record of 9-4 in a transition rebuilding year (2018) with that schedule was pretty remarkable. Can Jimbo keep the good vibes going?...”

Looking back: The Aggies had one Power-5 win in their first six games and it was versus lowly Arkansas. They swept the Mississippi schools and beat SC at home in the second half of the season. However, they lost all the big ones: Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and UGA. A Texas Bowl win over Okie Lite gave their season a nice ending but it had to be unsatisfactory to those close to the program. TAMU had one less win overall and in the conference than Year 1.

Returning starters: 8 on offense, 9 on defense, kicker.

Key losses: DT Justin Madubuike (Ravens, Round 3), P Braden Mann (Jets, Round 6), WR Quartney Davis, CB Debione Renfro, WR Kendrick Rogers, OC Colton Prater, TE Glenn Beall (transfer portal), RB Jashaun Corbin (transfer to FSU), DE Tyree Wilson (transfer to Texas Tech).

Top returnees: DL Bobby Brown, RB Isaiah Spiller, TE Jalen Wydermyer, S Demani Richardson, WR Jhamon Ausbon, OL Kenyon Green, DL DeMarvin Leal, LB Buddy Johnson, PK Seth Small, QB Kellen Mond*.

Top newcomers: DB Jaylon Jones (Cibolo, TX), WR Demond Demas (Houston, TX), DE Donell Harris (Miami, FL), DT McKinnley Jackson (Lucedale, MS), DB Antonio Johnson (East St. Louis, IL), LB Antonio Doyle (St. Louis, MO), OL Chris Morris (West Memphis, AR).

Name you need to know: You may already know the name Bobby Brown but not for good reasons. Two years ago, the defensive lineman jerked the Crimson Tide staff around promising on Signing Day morning to sign with Bama, then went with the Aggs. Now up to 325 lbs. from 282 as a high school senior, the true junior will be a challenge for SEC offensive linemen to contain this fall.

Strengths: Roughly 17 returning starters (depending on formations)... Seven senior starters on offense... Four returning starters on the OL... Jimbo can still recruit - No. 6 class... Stacked defensive line... Spiller had 946 rushing yards 10 TDs as a freshman in 2019... Kellen Mond*...

Weaknesses: Four new assistants (amazing how the press has said very little about that)... Replacing an All-Am punter... Lost three of four top wide receivers... Depth chart after QB1 and RB1 is mighty thin... Kellen Mond*...

Outlook: *Kellen Mond. Oh my. Sometimes he makes amazing plays and other times he derps the derpiest derps imaginable. The Aggies live and die on his decisions. Jimbo has fortified the roster pretty well but this team needs to learn to beat ranked teams.

2020 SCHEDULE:

Sat, Sep 26 vs Vanderbilt - W
Sat, Oct 3 @ Alabama - L
Sat, Oct 10 vs Florida - L - This could be a tricky one for the Gators.
Sat, Oct 17 @ Mississippi State - W
Sat, Oct 24 bye
Sat, Oct 31 vs Arkansas - W
Sat, Nov 7 @ South Carolina - W
Sat, Nov 14 @ Tennessee - W - This could be a toss up.
Sat, Nov 21 vs Ole Miss - W - Man, this feels like a trap game.
Sat, Nov 28 vs LSU - L
Sat, Dec 5 @ Auburn - W - Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Aggies are 3-1 in Jerdin Hair and 0-4 when hosting the War Plainsmen Eaglets. AU has defeated TAMU three straight. These Agg seniors might be a tad motivated and the barn might be in full DGAF mode by the time December rolls around.

ALABAMA SCHEDULE:

Sat, Sep 26 @ Missouri
Sat, Oct 3 vs Texas A&M
Sat, Oct 10 @ Ole Miss
Sat, Oct 17 vs Georgia
Sat, Oct 24 @ Tennessee
Sat, Oct 31 vs Mississippi State
Sat, Nov 14 @ LSU
Sat, Nov 21 vs Kentucky
Sat, Nov 28 vs Auburn
Sat, Dec 5 @ Arkansas

Full SEC schedule