Alabama @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Texas A&M 14, Alabama 33

Top-ranked Alabama has looked more than imposing over the past two weeks and aims for another convincing victory when it visits Texas A&M on Saturday in SEC play. The Crimson Tide routed Vanderbilt and Ole Miss by a cumulative 125-3 over the past two games while averaging 645 yards of total offense.

Even never-satisfied coach Nick Saban complimented his players for the back-to-back shellackings but he also is cautioning his squad that it needs to be supremely prepared for the Aggies, who have won four straight games. "This is by far, I think, the strongest team we've played to this point all the way around," Saban told reporters of a slate that began with Florida State. "It's certainly going to be a real challenge for us and test for us being a division game on the road." Texas A&M has responded well from its season-opening loss against UCLA -- when it blew a 34-point lead -- and coach Kevin Sumlin insisted his club won't deviate from the formula against the red-hot Crimson Tide. "Our emphasis and what we're doing here is not going to change because of the opponent," Sumlin said at a press conference. "We've got goals every week internally that we're trying to reach, and this team responds to that by getting a little bit better every week. ... Whether or not that will be good enough, we'll see."

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Alabama -26.5

ABOUT ALABAMA (5-0, 2-0 SEC): Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts has gone 169 passes without throwing an interception dating back to last season -- the third-longest streak in school history -- but is a bigger force with his legs as he has a team-best 461 rushing yards. Junior receiver Calvin Ridley is having another solid campaign with 24 receptions for 322 yards and his 185 career catches are third most in school history behind Amari Cooper (228 from 2012-14) and D.J. Hall (194 from 2004-07). Senior cornerback Levi Wallace, who has a team-best three interceptions, was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after picking off two passes and returning one for a touchdown in the 66-3 annihilation of Ole Miss.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (4-1, 2-0): The Aggies have already racked up 20 sacks -- led by 5.5 from junior defensive end Landis Durham -- and are receiving solid play from senior safety Armani Watts (team leader with three interceptions and 37 tackles) and junior weakside linebacker Otaro Alaka (team-best seven tackles for loss). Junior gamebreaking receiver Christian Kirk is only averaging 11.5 yards per catch while hauling in 23 passes (including four scores) but has been superb with a 30.2 kickoff return average to go with one touchdown. Freshman quarterback Kellen Mond has passed for 808 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions while sophomore running back Trayveon Williams (384 yards) hasn't maintained his season-opening dominance when he rushed for 202 yards against UCLA.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama holds a 7-2 series edge and has won the past four meetings.

2. Crimson Tide senior DE Da'Shawn Hand (knee) will miss the contest, while sophomore CB Trevon Diggs (foot) is questionable.

3. The Aggies allowed just 23 rushing yards and had seven sacks in last Saturday's 24-17 win over South Carolina.

PREDICTION: Alabama 48, Texas A&M 20