Two teams finishing off disappointing (by their respective high standards) seasons will face off Thursday night in College Station, Texas. The Texas A&M Aggies host the LSU Tigers in the final regular-season game for both teams.
The Aggies started off the season strong by rolling over South Carolina on the road and winning their first five games. The Ags then, uh, hit a bit of a rough patch in the middle of the season. They lost to Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama in one of the more brutal stretches any team faced this year. They bounced back with a win at Auburn, but fell to Mizzou last week and come into this game a bit worse for wear.
LSU outlasted Wisconsin to open the season and then participated in an up-and-down season. They are currently on a downswing, having lost their last two, at Alabama in overtime and getting shutout by Arkansas in the Battle for the Golden Boot.
Both teams could use a win to improve their standing in the conference and to perhaps improve their bowl prospects, but mainly to end the regular season on a high note.
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How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: LSU radio options and Texas A&M radio options.
Online streaming: Watch ESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither LSU nor Texas A&M are ranked, despite both playing in the SEC West. The Tigers are 7-4 and 3-4 in the SEC as are the Aggies.
Vegas: LSU opened as 2-point favorites. They're now 3-point road favorites with an over/under of 52, per Odds Shark.
Weather forecast: High of 68 with clear, sunny skies. Zero-percent chance of precipitation.
Two things at stake
With identical records, these two teams are jockeying for bowl position in the loaded SEC West (where every team is bowl eligible) on Texas A&M's Senior Day.
One big matchup
Texas A&M's QBs vs. LSU's passing defense: The Aggies are leading the SEC in passing offense, averaging 321 passing yards per game. In a league that prizes running the ball, A&M is a bit of an anomaly on the offensive side. As it would happen, LSU is giving up the fewest passing yards in the conference, allowing a mere 164 yards per game. The Tigers haven't recorded a bunch of interceptions this year, but are second in the conference in passes defended. If LSU can shut down the Aggies aerial attack, they'll have a great chance of coming out on top.
Further reading
For more on the Tigers, head on over to And The Valley Shook. For how to properly yell at a football game and more info on the Aggies, check out Good Bull Hunting.