Why Texas A&M Will Win The Capital One Orange Bowl
– Again, North Carolina is missing its main guys. QB Sam Howell is still around, but the 1-2 rushing punch of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams – who combined for close to 2,400 yards and 28 touchdowns – are off getting ready for the NFL.
Also gone is leading receiver Dyami Brown, but the receiving corps should be better off than the running game. The Tar Heels still have parts, but ask Florida what life is like in a bowl when the star quarterback doesn’t have his main men to work with. It really doesn’t help that …
– The Texas A&M run defense is fantastic. It allowed 22 yards on the ground to Arkansas, just under 200 to Auburn, that that’s it. The Aggies finished third in the nation against the run, the D is outstanding on third downs, and it can generate enough pressure to get to Howell and make him have to rush just enough to be a concern. In an SEC that became offense-happy in a real hurry, A&M had the league’s No. 1 D, helped a whole lot by …
– Tempo. Wisconsin, the military academies, Northwestern, and Texas A&M. Those are the teams that do the best job of making you play down to their pace and their speed. It’s not that A&M goes all that slow, but Jimbo Fisher has built up the lines, and now he’s got the guys in the trenches who can take over the game.
Throw in the veteran quarterback in Kellen Mond, the lack of turnovers – Texas A&M was No. 1 in the SEC in fewest turnovers lost, and North Carolina just doesn’t take the ball away – and this is the right team with the right style to deal with the Aggies.