Alabama @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2014 ) Texas A&M 0, Alabama 59

Texas A&M is undefeated in 2015 and cruising along, but few can forget what happened the last time it faced Alabama. The 10th-ranked Aggies will try to get some revenge and earn another key SEC West victory when they host the ninth-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday.

The 2014 season is one many around Texas A&M would like to forget, and a 59-0 loss at Alabama provided the lowlight. "We just had a crazy game where things went right for us and not much went right for them," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban told reporters this week in reference to that blowout. That loss encouraged the Aggies to make a change at quarterback with Kyle Allen stepping in, and the sophomore is coming into his own after less than a year as the starter. “What we did from a chronological standpoint immediately after that, was changes in personnel,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters. “Probably the biggest thing that came out of that. There were guys in critical roles that were replaced.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -4

ABOUT ALABAMA (5-1, 2-1 SEC): The Crimson Tide will be going up against a different offensive system after rolling over a pair of teams that play a slower pace in Georgia and Arkansas. Alabama failed to contain an up-tempo attack in a loss to Ole Miss earlier this season and struggled with Texas A&M when Johnny Maziel was running Kevin Sumlin’s offense to perfection in previous seasons. “It's going to be a real challenge for us to be able to cover them and keep them cut off and not give them plays down the field," Saban told reporters.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (5-0, 2-0): Allen was at his best in the first two SEC games and totaled 680 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in wins over Arkansas and Mississippi State. The sophomore, who took over as a freshman when Kenny Hill was replaced following the Alabama loss last season, is completing 64 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. Allen is also second on the team in rushing behind Tra Carson, who has gone over 100 yards in two of the last three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama freshman QB Blake Barnett was hospitalized for three days earlier in the week for an undisclosed reason.

2. The Aggies are attempting to secure their first 6-0 start since 1994.

3. Crimson Tide RB Derrick Henry has at least one TD in each of the first six games.

PREDICTION: Alabama 35, Texas A&M 28