No. 4 Texas A&M @ Arkansas – Saturday at 2:30 PM on ESPN
Since 2009, Texas A&M and Arkansas have had a neutral-site agreement for their rivalry games, playing 13 of 16 games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. However, on Saturday, it will become a true road game for the undefeated and No. 4 ranked Aggies, who will travel to take on the Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the first time since 2013.
Despite boasting a 2-4 record and losing narrowly to Tennessee 31-34 on the road, Arkansas has the sixth-best offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, based on yards gained per game, averaging 511.5. The Razorbacks’ offense will have their hands full facing an Aggie defense that ranks in the top 20 of college football, only allowing 294.5 yards per game.
“(Arkansas) will be a real tremendous challenge for us,” Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said on Monday during his weekly press conference. “Offensively, they’ve been playing elite football … They’re averaging just under 40 points a game.”
No. 11 Tennessee @ No. 6 Alabama – Saturday at 6:30 PM on ABC
Since 1928, Tennessee and Alabama have faced one another every season on the gridiron, with 1943 being the only exception, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. Often, these matchups have fallen on the third Saturday of October, which has become the namesake of the rivalry.
“Understand the rivalry. It’s a lot of fun for our fans and goes back, obviously, generations. We understand how big of a deal this game is to them,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said on Monday during his weekly press conference. “We understand how big of a deal this game is to us right now in the season that we’re in, and that’s really what we’re focused on.”
Both teams are 5-1 and are coming off narrow victories last week, after Alabama escaped a thriller on the road against then-No. 14 Missouri 27-24, and Tennessee won a 34-31 shootout with Arkansas.
A potential key factor for this game’s outcome will be third downs, specifically when Alabama is defending. The Crimson Tide defense has successfully defended 37.9% of third downs, while the Volunteers’ offense has converted 48.6% of their third downs.
No. 5 Ole Miss @ No. 9 Georgia – Saturday at 2:30 PM on ABC
In a rematch of one of last year’s key conference matchups, Ole Miss will travel to Georgia for a top-10 matchup. Last year, the Rebels handed the Bulldogs its second loss of the season, only allowing a field goal in the second half.
“I got a lot of respect for (Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin),” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “One of the best things he does is in-game coaching.”
Smart and the 5-1 Bulldogs will have a lot on their plate taking on a well-rounded Rebels team. Ole Miss has the fifth-best offense, averaging 515.3 yards per game, paired with a top-50 defense. However, it may come down to what happens in the red zone due to Georgia’s top defense on that side of the field.
