Preview: Can Texas A&M Finish at Home with a Victory?

The Gamecocks come to town tomorrow

COLLEGE STATION - History has been on Texas A&M's side since 2014. Ever since the rivalry between the Aggies and South Carolina began, the Maroon and White have won each of the five contest. On Saturday, they'll go for their sixth in the final home game of the 2019 season.

The Aggies (6-3, 3-2 SEC) have been strong outings over the past month. Winning three of four under the direction of Kellen Mond, A&M's offense has shined at home. The Gamecocks (4-6, 3-4 SEC) hope to keep their bowl chances alive in a must-win outing at Kyle Field.

Here's everything you need to know for tomorrow's game.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. at Kyle Field on Saturday, November 16

LINE: -10.5 in favor of Texas A&M, Over/Under 50.5

TV: SEC Network

LAST MEETING: Texas A&M defeated South Carolina 26-23 in Columbia, South Carolina.

WHEN TEXAS A&M IS ON OFFENSE

Production will be essential for the Aggies early. Mond has shown brilliance as a dual-threat quarterback, failing to convert a turnover in September's outing against Auburn in front of the home crowd. His ability to extend plays and connect with his targets has impressed.

The emergence of young talents such as Ainias Smith and Jalen Wydermyer has been promising to the program's success. Smith, although known for his special teams' skills, made three catches for 31 yards in his last outing, including a 25-yard gain to set A&M up in the red zone. Wydermyer continues to defy the odds with six touchdowns, the second-most all-time for an Aggies tight end.

Javon Kinlaw of the Gamecocks could be a difference-maker. According to several scouts, the senior defensive tackle continues to dominate with his bull-rushing style and can terrorize offensive lineman. The weakest point of A&M this season has been their offensive line, which allowed three sacks against non-Power 5 ranked UTSA two weeks ago.

WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA IS ON OFFENSE

The Gamecocks offense has struggled to find a rhythm at times this season, mainly due to injuries. Senior quarterback Jake Bentley would see his season end in Week 2 with a foot injury. Since then, freshman Ryan Hilinski has stepped up admirably, throwing for over 1,700 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.

The Aggies will need to prepare for big-bodied wide receiver Bryan Edwards on the outside. Known for his size, the senior has the ability to win with his speed and create mismatches in the open field. Last week against Appalachian State, Edwards became the all-time leading receiver in program history.

The Aggies secondary should feel better about their status with the return of both cornerback Elijah Blades and safety Demani Richardson. The duo missed the last game with multiple injuries but have been full participants at practice this week. Blades is expected to start on the outside and mirror Edwards in man coverage.

SOUTH CAROLINA WINS IF: They stop the run game

Last outing, freshman running back Isaiah Spiller rushed for a career-high 217 yards and scored three touchdowns. Although it was against a weaker opponent, it tied the school record for single-game yards by a rookie runner. The problem is that Spiller has seen limited success against SEC opponents this season.

Stopping the run game will force Mond to pass. The Gamecocks were able to pull their double-overtime upset against Georgia by forcing Jake Fromm to throw three interceptions on the afternoon. That could be the same storyline in College Station if Jimbo Fisher's squad loses an element of their offense.

TEXAS A&M WINS IF: They remain calm

The reason they call it the domino effect is because once this first problem occurs, they all tumble little by little. Even if A&M should struggle early, it's about remaining calm moving forward.

The Aggies could throw an interception on the opening drive or have back-to-back punts. It will be more important for how they respond rather than worry about what occurred. So long as the Aggies stay a part of the plan, things should swing their way.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

For Texas A&M, should the team win, they'll finish with an above .500 record for the second-straight season under Fisher. It will also give them momentum heading into their two-week road trip against top-ranked opponents. Having the confidence boost to take on No.4 Georgia and No.1 LSU could start this weekend.

For South Carolina, it's win or go home from here on out. The Gamecocks have dropped easy victories to teams such as North Carolina and Tennessee, making the end of their season difficult. They will face No.3 Clemson to close out the year, meaning every win counts from here on out.

PREDICTION

One should not sleep on the Gamecocks despite their record. They still are a team that has beaten a top-ranked opponent and has tested A&M over time. Last season, South Carolina nearly came back to end the streak in favor of Texas A&M.

It will also be a friendly rivalry between Fisher and Will Muschamp -- both who coached under Nick Saban during the 2003 LSU National Championship season. The two have always had great respect for another, going back to their days in Florida at Gainesville and Tallahassee.

Mond will be the x-factor. Should he continue to shine in front of the home crowd, this should be a comfortable victory for the Aggies. There could be several struggles, but A&M will put out another win at home. No one should expect the Bonham Trophy to be leaving College Station following Saturday evening.

Final: Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 20