The next few days are going to be hectic for everyone. Don't get left behind and last in line for the turkey!
Be sure to take a moment tomorrow, hell, tonight, everyday, to look and reflect on all you have and be thankful for all of it, no matter how little or how much that may be. Have a great and wonderful holiday with your family and friends, everyone, and best of luck to you all.
LSU (-3-) at Texas A&M 7:30 ET ESPN
FREE 2* BET LSU (-3)
This is a battle of underperforming SEC teams who each enter the contest at 7-4 SU, 3-4 SU in SEC West play. As such, they are clearly below the division standard bearers, Alabama and Mississippi St. In addition, they have also taken a step back from the national acclaim reached by each program in recent seasons. Though larger carrots do not wait for either of these programs, there is a lot of pride on the line as they enter this Thanksgiving evening game in an effort to salvage their respective mediocre seasons. Each plays with a week of rest and coming off a loss.
For Texas A&M, that defeat came on this very field vs. Missouri. The Aggies were badly mauled at the point of attack by the Tigers 335-104, as Missouri used a 200 Club game for 587 total yards in a 34-27 victory. It was a microcosm of the Aggies' season, which began with SEC victories vs. S. Carolina and Arkansas. Since October, however, the Aggies have gone just 2-4 SU, 1-6 ATS with one of those victories against LA Monroe. In so doing, they failed to cover the number by a net of 96 points. Look no further than the fact they are approaching the status of "Defensive Dud" with a stop unit that allows 28 PPG, 210/4.9 overland and 235/7.1 through the air. In a letdown season, following the departure of Johnny Manziel, the Aggies have failed to cover a game on their once strong home field.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MY 3* RIVALRY GAME OF THE YEAR
STANFORD @ UCLA
FRIDAY 3:30 ET KICK-OFF
Much like A&M, LSU has fallen from the national spotlight this year. In the previous 4 years, the Tigers had recorded a mark of 44-9 SU, often challenging for superiority in the SEC West, widely considered to be the nation's best division. This year, however, fortunes have turned against the Tigers with losses to division powers Mississippi St. by 5, Auburn by 34 and Alabama by 7 (in OT). The week after that crushing defeat, they traveled to Arkansas (a team who had lost 17 consecutive SEC games). The inevitable letdown took place as Arkansas defeated LSU 17-0, holding the Tigers to just 123 total yards. Since that time, the Tigers have focused on the bounce back for this game. Behind RB Fourette, LSU already had a solid ground game at 205/4.3. Two weeks of practice in the passing game should pay huge dividends against the weak Texas A&M secondary. Clearly, the Tigers are more proficient on that side of the ball. Allowing just 16 PPG, 313 YPG and 4.8 YP play, they are notably superior to the Aggies who approach Defensive Dud status.
Let's try the far superior defense, following an embarrassing shutout loss, to get the victory tonight, against an A&M team who has clearly lost their way as the season has progressed.