Greg McElroy: Alabama vs. Texas A&M is going to be 'ugly'

Former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy provided a grim outlook for Saturday’s game between Alabama and Texas A&M, promising an “ugly” score line. The two teams are moving in opposite directions this season after both entered with high expectations.

Texas A&M is already 3-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play with losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State, each picked to finish at the bottom of the SEC West during the preseason. Things do not get easier for the Aggies, who welcome the No. 1 Crimson Tide to town this weekend in desperate need of a win.

“It’s going to get ugly, and I think most Aggie fans probably know that. The only way this game is going to be competitive is if, for whatever reason, Alabama overlooks and disrespects the Aggies,” said McElroy, via ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.

Barring an oversight or a Johnny Manziel like performance from starting quarterback Zach Calzada, Alabama looks likely to make thing “ugly” against Texas A&M. On paper, the Crimson Tide is set for its 20th consecutive win and will pick up Nick Saban’s 24th consecutive win against a former assistant too.

Of course, Nick Saban, college football’s ultimate drill sergeant, would never claim victory as early as his former quarterback. The message will remain the same inside the Alabama facility, but that is part of McElroy’s point.

Better than anyone, he understands how Nick Saban is able to keep a team focused ahead of every game it should or should not win.

Paul Finebaum buries Texas A&M

Paul Finebaum is kicking himself for a bold prediction he made leading into the 2021 college football season. Week 6’s slate of games was supposed to be headlined by Texas A&M hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Aggies’ pedestrian 3-2 record after five games has ruined the hype.

“When the season began, I made a bold prediction,” Finebaum said on the ESPN CFB podcast. “I’m hitting myself. I said Oct. 9 was going to be the biggest day of the year in the SEC. I said the one chance that Nick Saban had to go down was going to be at Kyle Field. I’m focusing in on Jimbo Fisher because I can’t think of a program that was a playoff contender that has played more woefully than Texas A&M.

“CBS made it their primetime game. They pick one a year. Last year, it was Alabama-Georgia. This year, it’s Alabama at A&M. I need help. I know they lost their starting quarterback, but so did Georgia. It has derailed this program.”

Finebaum’s co-host Matt Barrie admitted he’s never been as bullish on the Aggies as their preseason No. 6 ranking warranted.

“I always thought A&M was talented, I never thought they were anywhere near a playoff team,” Barrie said. “Anyone who watches football, you can’t convince me that Haynes King, top to bottom, was going to be the guy that led A&M and Jimbo Fisher to the promised land. Zach Calzada and that thing, they’re going to fall out of the Top 25 and everyone’s going to get to watch what Alabama does to them on Saturday.”