Desmond Howard explains why Alabama is on serious 'upset-alert' vs. Texas A&M
Alabama can’t afford a second loss after falling to Texas in Week 2. However, ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard believes the Crimson Tide could suffer one on Saturday at Texas A&M.
Howard joined First Take Friday morning and was asked if Alabama or Georgia is more likely to lose this weekend. He didn’t hesitate in saying Alabama is more likely to lose in College Station than Georgia is to fall to Kentucky.
“I like Alabama to be on upset alert, simply because they’re on the road and A&M – they always play them pretty tough,” Howard said. “The Aggies could’ve won last year in Tuscaloosa. And don’t forget, that’s a game that Bryce Young did not play, and Jalen Milroe was the quarterback for Alabama. And they almost lost that game in Tuscaloosa. Now Jalen Milroe, he has to go on the road to College Station and going up against this Aggies team that’s looking for a signature win.”
Milroe has been inconsistent as a passer this season, but he is a very dangerous runner.
With that said, Texas A&M has a really good defense, and Howard believes the Aggies will be able to limit Milroe’s rushing ability.
“I think defensively the Aggies should have enough athletes on defense that they can put a spy on Jalen Milroe, keep him in the pocket and make him try to beat them with his arm, as opposed to his legs,” Howard said. “This is going to be a great matchup.”
Nick Saban pulls back curtain on Texas A&M’s home-field advantage
Alabama will have to make plays on the field and also handle the crowd noise in order to win on Saturday.
Ahead of the game, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban spoke about the home-field advantage Texas A&M has at Kyle Field.
“This is one of the toughest places we’ve ever had to play,” Saban said Thursday on the Nick Saban Show. “When we went over there two years ago and actually lost in a really close game, it was the loudest most difficult place to play. They have great tradition. They have their military folks and all that and there’s great tradition in what they do.”
Tradition is synonymous with Texas A&M football. On game days, over 100,000 fans migrate to Kyle Field. From the “Aggie War Hymn” to the “Gig ‘Em” signal, Aggies fans are easy to spot.
After all, they put in practice to boast such successful weekends. On the night before home games, thousands of Aggies fans gather at Midnight Yell Practice. Texas A&M can expect a few additional visitors with Alabama coming to town.