LSU at Texas A&M Lines, Free Pick & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Tuesday,November 22, 2016 9:12, EDT in

College Football News, Online Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

If you aren’t interested in the Thanksgiving night NFL game this week between the Steelers and Colts, there is one college football betting option on the holiday as No. 16 LSU visits No. 25 Texas A&M in the regular-season finale for both — it also could be the final regular season game for both coaches with their current teams as Ed Orgeron isn’t expected to get the LSU full-time job and Kevin Sumlin could be fired by the Aggies if they lose this game.

LSU at Texas A&M Lines, Free Pick & TV Info

“A sea of purple and gold is all you see. It looks like exactly what it is, which is the best stadium in college football.” pic.twitter.com/4fBbLwvokP

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 21, 2016

When: Thursday, Nov. 24, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: LSU / Texas A&M
Opening NCAA Football Lines: LSU -5 (44)

Why Bet on LSU?

The Tigers (6-4, 4-3) come off a crushing 16-10 home loss to Florida, handing the SEC East title to the Gators. Florida’s defense stuffed LSU’s Derrius Guice on a do-or- die run from the 1-yard line in the final seconds. The final play capped a defensive struggle in which LSU converted a fourth-and- 10 play on its final drive, only to get stopped on back-to- back runs from the 1 to end the game. Fullback J.D. Moore came up short on third down. LSU controlled most of the game and held statistical advantages, outgaining Florida 423 yards to 270 and holding possession for 34:02.

Multiple reports had indicated that LSU star running back Leonard Fournette would be out vs. Florida due to soreness from a nagging left ankle injury, but LSU’s Orgeron confirmed after the game that Fournette came to him in the locker room after a pre-game scuffle with UF players and asked to play.

Fournette’s gimpy left ankle prevented him from making an impact as he had 12 carries for 40 yards. It’s not clear if he will play Thursday. Orgeron says the Tigers will be without senior linebacker Kendell Beckwith when they face Texas A&M on Thursday. Beckwith, who was named as a Butkus Award finalist on Monday, injured his knee in Saturday’s 16-10 loss to Florida.

LSU brings one of the nation’s top defenses into the game as the Tigers have allowed just 11 touchdowns all season, the fewest in the FBS. Overall, LSU ranks No. 2 in the SEC in rush defense (115.2), No. 3 in scoring defense (14.1) and total defense (308.1) and No. 5 in pass defense (192.9).

It’s the third straight year that LSU and Texas A&M play in the season finale. LSU is 4-0 against the Aggies since A&M joined the SEC in 2012. Overall, LSU has won five straight against Texas A&M, which includes a 41-24 win in the 2011 Cotton Bowl, and leads the series, 31-20- 3. LSU will play on Thanksgiving for the 27th time in program history and the Tigers are 11-10- 5 in those games. Two years ago, LSU beat Texas A&M, 23-17, on Thanksgiving Night in College Station.

Why Bet on Texas A&M?

The Aggies beat Texas-San Antonio, 23-10, last week and stand at 8-3 overall and 4-3 in SEC action. Jake Hubenak threw for 248 yards and a touchdown and Myles Garrett had 4 1/2 sacks. The Aggies were in desperate need of a victory after consecutive losses to Mississippi State and Mississippi ruined their shot at the College Football Playoff. The Roadrunners cut the lead to 3 points early in the second quarter after a one-handed touchdown grab by Josh Stewart. The Aggies then scored the next 13 points, capped by a 47 yard run by Trayveon Williams to make it 23-7 in the third quarter. Williams is on the cusp of becoming the first true freshman to reach the magical 1,000-yard rushing plateau in program history. Williams needs 44 rushing yard to reach 1,000.

Senior WR Josh Reynolds joined the Aggies’ exclusive 2,500-yard club for career receiving yards with 93 yards on seven catches against UTSA. Reynolds also hauled in his 27th career touchdown grab. Reynolds, the SEC active leader in receiving touchdowns, trails only Jeff Fuller (34) on the all-time A&M receiving TD list. Reynolds now ranks fourth all-time on A&M’s career receiving yards list and is within striking distance of Terrence Murphy for 3rd all-time (2,600 yards, 2001-04).

Garrett’s 4.5 QB sacks were a career-high and were just half-a- sack off the school record. He now has 32.5 career, seventh in the SEC. Garrett is 1.5 QB sacks away from becoming the first player in SEC history to reach double digits in the first three seasons of his career. Garrett had 11.5 as a freshman, 12.5 as a sophomore and has 8.5 as a junior in 2016.

The victory made A&M’s Sumlin and Alabama boss Nick Saban the only SEC head coaches with at least eight victories in each of the last five seasons (2012-16). With the win, Sumlin becomes the second head coach in school history to win at least eight games in the first five games of his career. The last win for Aggies over LSU was 33-17 at Kyle Field in 1995.