South Carolina State @ Texas A&M preview
Kyle Field
Texas A&M will try to avoid becoming the latest BCS team to lose to an FCS school when the Aggies host South Carolina State on Saturday night. Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel continues to solidify his future for the Aggies. He broke the school’s single-game freshman record Saturday by passing for 294 yards in a 48-3 victory against SMU, earning Southeastern Conference freshman player of the week honors. He has passed for four touchdowns this season, ran for three and has yet to commit a turnover. South Carolina State, meanwhile, has struggled at the quarterback position. Richard Cue has completed 20 of 54 passes this season with no touchdown passes and three interceptions.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: No line
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (1-2): The Bulldogs have been outscored 83-0 in their last seven quarters and will have a difficult time turning things around against Texas A&M. Only 20 teams in the FCS average less first downs per game (15.7) than South Carolina State, and the Bulldogs aren’t much better in scoring average (15.7) or yards per game (292.7). Cue took over as starting quarterback midway through last season when Derrick Wiley suffered a season-ending knee injury, but Southern Carolina State coach Buddy Pough indicated this week that Wiley may get another look.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-1): Manziel’s emergence has stolen some of the spotlight from the Texas A&M defense, but the Aggies have been just as impressive on that side of the ball. They limited No. 14 Florida to 307 yards in a 20-17 loss Sept. 8, and their 308-yard-per-game average is 28th in the country. Damontre Moore, a junior defensive end, already has five sack. The defensive corps should also get a boost with the return of senior strong safety Steven Campbell, who was suspended for the SMU game for violating team rules. Campbell had five tackles in the loss to Florida.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mike Evans has emerged as the favorite target for Manziel. The 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman receiver has 13 receptions for 183 yards this season.
2. Aggies senior running back Christine Michael is also expected to return from a one-game suspension for violating team rules. Michael has rushed for 2,407 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career.
3. Deshazor Everett made the move from cornerback to safety as a result of Campbell's suspension, and Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said Tuesday that he plans to keep the sophomore at safety.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 56, South Carolina State 10.