Head coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are set to host Mike Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies this weekend.

Both programs are coming off losses and are hoping to get back into the win column. Elko’s team heads into Death Valley, which can be an extremely difficult place to play, and this rivalry has gained a lot of steam over the last several years.

There are plenty of storylines on each side, including a couple of struggling quarterbacks with Sam Leavitt and Marcel Reed for LSU and Texas A&M, respectively. You also have two teams that still have everything to play for but showed serious warts this past week that could prevent them from making a deep run this season.

Along with several colleagues at A to Z Sports, we predicted the final outcome of this LSU vs. Texas A&M battle. Here is how our staff sees it playing out, including score predictions, key storylines, and players to watch.

Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama

This is a game that when the schedule dropped in early spring, every fan of the SEC and college football in general had circled. But as the sport has shown us time and time again, you have to expect the unexpected. and suddenly this game has lost a little bit of luster after both A&M and LSU dropped the game last week.

The problem, however, is that while LSU lost to arguably the best team in the country, A&M got manhandled at home against the Kentucky Wildcats. So this game is still very intriguing, but not for the same reasons as it was in the preseason. This game will likely have massive implications on the college football playoff. As whichever team loses will have 2 losses and 2 conference losses before the calendar flips to October. It is for that reason, on top of the home field advantage, the coaching, and the overall talent, that I think LSU wins the game.

Final score prediction: LSU 30, Texas A&M 20

Craig Smith, A to Z Sports Miami

What a game this was looking to be until a week ago. It is hard to figure out what to make of either team right now. LSU has been streaky the last two games with some second-half surges after flat starts. Sam Leavitt has three touchdown passes to five interceptions through three weeks. Texas A&M got taken apart defensively by Kentucky, and Marcel Reed could not help muster up more than seven points against the Wildcats in his first three quarters of the 31-21 loss.

At this point, neither quarterback inspires trust, but LSU’s ground game should establish itself and churn out extended drives to take control of the game. Reed and the Aggies’ passing attack will come alive again late to make this one close, but it will be too late.

Final score prediction: LSU 31, Texas A&M 27.

Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Oklahoma

The LSU team we saw at the end of that game against Ole Miss is the team I think we’ll start seeing a lot more regularly. And I’m not sure Texas A&M is actually a good team. They’ve consistently let everyone down compared to the expectations they have, and losing to Kentucky the way they did is just inexcusable. But they have a chance to get right back where everyone else had them. Unfortunately, I have LSU’s offense winning this one while the defense still holds Texas A&M to 20 points. I’m not convinced Marcel Reed will be able to operate against the defensive line with, with the key, with the key players in the secondary LSU has as well.

Final score prediction: LSU 30, Texas A&M 20.

Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State

This is sort of a must-win game for both teams coming off tough losses. Of course, the loss for Texas A&M stands out a lot more, and this one is one the Aggies just have to have if they want to be in the college football playoff this season. It’ll be interesting to see the LSU offense after that loss to Ole Miss and how they look without tight end Tredez Green. Both Marcel Reed and Sam Leavitt need bounce-back weeks in Week 4, which could be the deciding factor in the game. I have a hard time seeing LSU dropping 2 straight. There’d be a lot of noise for Lane Kiffin to hear if that were the case. The, the Tigers bounce back at home.

Final score prediction: LSU 34, Texas A&M 23.

Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida

The LSU Tigers showed a lot of fight on Saturday night in Oxford, coming from behind to make it a game. The one concern I have is Lane Kiffin using Sam Leavitt like Jaxson Dart. He’s not built like that, nor has he been anything resembling a consistent passer. Speaking of inconsistent passers, Marcel Reed has been rough, especially in the brutal home loss to Kentucky. I don’t trust him whatsoever, and he will cost the Aggies another playoff berth.

Final score prediction: LSU 24, Texas A&M 16.

Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame

Playing at LSU in Death Valley is not an easy feat, especially after Kiffin and the Tigers have a bad taste in their mouth after losing last week against rival Ole Miss. Texas A&M is also hunting for a victory after a tough and embarrassing loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Conventional wisdom would say LSU at home has looked like a better football team and probably wins this game. However, Texas A&M is just a weird team that seems to give LSU some trouble in recent years. I am actually going to opt for the upset. The difference for me will be wide receiver Mario Craver, who has a huge day working out of the slot and creating some chunk plays deep down the field. Texas A&M outlasts LSU with Sam Leavitt continuing to struggle, throwing a pair of interceptions in this one.

Final score prediction: Texas A&M 24, LSU 21.

Five of the six A to Z Sports staffers are picking the Tigers to take care of business at home, with the predicted margin of victory ranging from four points to 14. The lone dissenter is yours truly, banking on Texas A&M’s ability to create problems for LSU in recent matchups and Craver’s playmaking ability to swing the game.

Regardless of where you fall, one thing is very clear: whichever team loses will be staring down a very difficult road to the College Football Playoff with two conference losses before October.