A couple of ugly defeats will blemish a win-loss record.
But a big win can change the complexion of a football season.
LSU can be Texas A&M’s Clearasil.
Losses to the Southeastern Conference’s Mississippi minions have defaced A&M’s season like a couple of puss-filled zits on the nose and raised questions about coach Kevin Sumlin’s future.
However, a victory over LSU could ultimately help A&M land in the Sugar Bowl seeking a 10th victory.
Ten wins and a Sugar Bowl victory – or almost any bowl victory, for that matter – doesn’t provide much cause for discontent.
But lose to LSU, and that changes. Then, A&M will have lost five straight to the Tigers under Sumlin. The Aggies also will have lost their last four conference games and will finish the regular season with no more than eight wins for the fourth straight year.
That’s like a full-blown acne breakout.
“(Having success against LSU) is the goal,” Sumlin said. “We haven't won this game for whatever reason. Sometimes we've played well, sometimes we haven't. But this is another game. It's an SEC West game that our team wants to win and put us in position for some really positive things in post-season play.”
The Aggies’ 8-3 record already guarantees a postseason appearance, but there is a significant difference between the Sugar Bowl or a Florida bowl and a second-tier game.
The Aggies’ 8-3 record already guarantees a postseason appearance, but there is a significant difference between the Sugar Bowl or a Florida bowl and a second-tier game like the Liberty Bowl, Belk Bowl or Texas Bowl.
The Sugar Bowl invites the highest-ranked SEC team not participating in the College Football Playoff.
A&M would need to pass Florida and Auburn. Auburn probably loses to Alabama on Saturday. Florida could very well lose to Florida State this weekend and then fall to Alabama in the SEC championship game.
That would seemingly open the path for A&M. That is, if the Aggies beat LSU.
“We still have an opportunity to win double-digit games, which not a lot of teams can,” Sumlin said. “But we can't do that if we don't win Thursday. So the focus stays on being 1-0 after this week. What we have to do is put ourselves in the best position by 10 (o’clock) Thursday night and see what happens. It gets back to our seniors, the last game on Kyle Field, and letting those guys leave here with the right frame of mind and a positive experience Thursday night.”
The odds of having a “positive” experience on Thursday seem to have increased in the last five days.
Myles Garrett showed he’s close to 100-percent healthy with his 4.5-sack performance in last week’s 23-10 victory over Texas-San Antonio.
Garrett is known for his pass rush, of course, but there is no doubt the Aggies are also much better against the run when he’s at or near peak performance.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
Texas A&M must contain powerful LSU running backs Leonard Fournette (pictured) and Derrius Guice to win on Thursday.
A&M must hold up against LSU’s powerful running game. The Aggies might catch a break with All-American running back Leonard Fournette slowed by an ankle injury.
However, his backup, Derrius Guice, is almost as explosive. Guice has rushed for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. If that’s not enough reason to respect him, remember that he gained 73 yards and scored on a 50-yard run in LSU’s 19-7 win over A&M last year.
A&M must contain the running game and force LSU to rely on quarterback Danny Etling, who hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in any of the Tigers’ last three games.
Fingers are crossed that safeties Donovan Wilson and Armani Watts and cornerback Priest Willis will be back in action after sitting out last week’s win.
Regardless of who suits up, the Aggie defense must play well. LSU hasn’t allowed more than 21 points in any game this season.
Backup quarterback Jake Hubenak cannot be expected to produce more points against LSU than Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly, Arkansas’ Austin Allen or Alabama’s Jalen Hurts did.
The Aggies do have big-play threats in receivers Josh Reynolds and Christian Kirk. Ricky Seals-Jones also appears to have finally recovered from an ankle injury that has slowed him for half the season.
A&M’s receivers match up against LSU’s celebrated secondary better than most.
Also, LSU is without star middle linebacker Kendall Beckwith, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s loss to Florida.
Florida running back Jordan Scarlett rushed for 108 yards in the Gators’ 16-10 victory – 80 of those came in the second half after Beckwith’s injury.
Florida’s offensive line isn’t better than A&M’s, so perhaps the Aggies can capitalize similarly.
The Aggies must play sound run defense, pressure Etling on obvious passing downs, run efficiently and pick up a few big plays in the passing game.
Do that, and A&M can finally beat LSU, finish second in the SEC West, possibly reach the Sugar Bowl and have a shot at a rare 10th win.
A win would change the complexion of this season.
A loss would be just another zit on the nose.
