Joel Klatt is siding with the road favorite in one of the SEC’s loudest venues. On The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX analyst picked No. 3 Texas A&M to beat No. 20 LSU, 23-20, noting the Aggies are 2.5-point favorites in Baton Rouge.
Texas A&M (7–0) visits Tiger Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 CT) in a matchup of ranked teams with SEC title implications. The Aggies have not won at LSU since 1994 and are 0–6 in Baton Rouge since joining the SEC, a drought head coach Mike Elko acknowledged this week.
“LSU is going to be without its starting left tackle — Tyree Adams is going to miss a few weeks. That’s not great because the matchup is not great when you’re missing offensive linemen, in particular a tackle, because of Cashius Howell. Howell has eight sacks for A&M… If LSU cannot run the football effectively, Howell will have the ability to have a one-way go — pin-your-ears-back style of pass rush — against Garrett Nussmeier, and that is not a situation that’s going to benefit LSU.”
LSU has confirmed Adams is out; Brian Kelly said DJ Chester will step in at left tackle. That puts more stress on protection against Howell, who leads the SEC with eight sacks.
“This defense for A&M — yeah, they didn’t play great against Arkansas… I do believe they can play quality defense, in particular against a team that has not shown the ability to play very solid on the offensive side of the ball. We know this: A&M can run the football; they can throw the football; they’ve got quality wide receivers on the outside.”
Klatt is favoring the Aggies despite the defensive showing last week because of A&M’s complete body of work. They arrive undefeated with quarterback Marcel Reed having a great season so far. With an SEC-leading edge rusher in Howell, Klatt leans the way of Texas A&M and their ability to stop an LSU offense that has been uninspiring this year.
“When I think about this matchup — in almost every phase, the advantage lies with Texas A&M. I’ve got to take the Aggies. I think Marcel Reed and Mike Elko go in and get a win in Death Valley, 23-20, and cover the 2.5.”
