Week 2: In with the new

By Kyle Magin

Dear Texas A&M,
    As you embark on your journey through the SEC—a league that's won 6 of the last 6 national titles in FBS play—your old brothers from Austin wanted to bid you farewell in style, so let's let Justin Tucker take it away, shall we?

Godspeed, A&M!
—The BIG 12

Much has changed for the Aggies since we last talked, dear readers. World-beater QB Ryan Tannehill left for the cocaine and face–eating zombie ridden palm–lined streets of Miami, and A&M is officially now a member of the SEC's western division. Mike Sherman is out, Kevin Sumlin is in from Houston and the Aggs missed their week 1 showdown with Louisiana Tech due to rain. You're caught up.

Florida @ Texas A&M -2
Kyle Field (GREAT name) plays host to A&M's first SEC matchup against Florida. The Gators' pass game struggled mightily last week in a squeaker of a win over Bowling Green, managing just 145 yards. Today coach Will Muschamp named Jeff Driskell starter, ending a QB competition, and promised to open up the offense more after a run–happy first outing. That could spell trouble for A&M, who is less experienced at DL and in the defensive backfield than a squad that last year allowed 417 yards per game on the road. New Ags QB Johnny Manziel marches into this game against one of the top defenses in the country with a good o-line and great receiving corps and questions about the running game; oft-dinged Christine Michael is slated to start at RB. This game could come down, though, to Florida's offensive skill position players, notable the receivers, who struggled mightily last week. Florida is 8-5 as road dogs over the past 10 years, and Muschamp knows how to beat A&M: he went 2 for 3 against the Aggies during his time as Texas' defensive coordinator.

Washington @ LSU -23.5
U-Dub's offense was less than spectacular in its opener against SDSU last weekend—managing just 21 points. QB Keith Price was relatively efficient—70-plus percent completions—though, but he took 3 sacks, more a function of the SDSU defense keying on him instead of the Huskies' anemic rushing game. LSU's QB Zach Mettenberger looked very crisp in his first start, though, tallying a 73-plus percent completion rate and 7.39 yards per completion. His running game, led by Spencer Ware, looked really tough and he won't be forced into passing more than he's comfortable. U-Dub's defense looked good, but LSU's looked great, holding North Texas to 2.2 yards per carry. LSU isn't strong against the spread at home, though, and the last time these two got together in Seattle in '09, the Dogs kept it close in a loss.

Miami @ Kansas State -7
How bad is it in Coral Gables when six players leave early from the team after a 6-6 season? The U looked evenly balanced on offense in a 41-32 win over BC to start the season. But they aren't stopping shit—certainly not a K-State team that racked up 324 yards rushing in an opening beatdown of Missouri State. Quarterback Stephen Morris passed for a paltry 62 percent completion rate and just 4.6 yards per completion—and he'll need to improve each of those numbers significantly to keep up with K-State and defeat a defense that is gaining in experience. Manhattan is probably going to play host to a shootout Saturday.