THE SEC REPORT
Texas A&M survives a battle, Alabama's defense looks vulnerable and Florida seems to have fixed its problems
Oct 1, 2019, 8:30 am
THE SEC REPORT
Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio and Sports. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!
THE SEC wasn't too busy this week although A&M and Arkansas had themselves a slug fest in Jerry World. Alabama's defense continues to let inferior teams score points in bunches which is going to be a concern come SEC championship time and playoff weekends. Florida seems to have righted the ship completely and is sitting pretty in the top 10 for the first time in a while.
Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, Alabama, had 7 total touchdowns last weekend. I'd say that's a good game, it's incredible the numbers some of these quarterbacks are putting up these days.
Kellen Mond, quarterback, Texas A&M, the offense felt inconsistent but he was able to overcome that and finish the game the right way and win a hard fought game, excellent job.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn, running back, Vanderbilt, got himself 138 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and Vandy needed all of them to pull out a tight win against Northern Illinois.
On the upcoming slate of games there's a couple things to watch but most notably Auburn coming to Florida for a battle of the top tens, is this where Nix's run of magic ends? Missouri hosts Troy in what should be a nice undercard fight and Vanderbilt comes to Ole Miss for a great game.
Joe Burrow, quarterback, LSU, if you're playing college fantasy football Burrow is the points generator you dream of in the middle rounds and this week will probably be a three quarter example of why.
Larry Rountree III, running back, Missouri, the recipe for hard wins is run the ball and play defense so expect big numbers from Rountree.
D'Andre Swift, running back, Georgia, the bulldogs are on the road to Knoxville and Swift has to be hoping for about 15 great carries because the Volunteers aren't exactly stopping people these days.
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The Houston Texans enter the 2025 season with momentum, expectations, and no shortage of spotlight games. A 9.5-win total in Vegas reflects growing national respect—but also pressure to deliver.
Hot start, big stage
Houston opens with a tough but marquee road test in Los Angeles against the Rams before returning to NRG for a Monday Night Football showdown against the Buccaneers.
Division duels define the path
As always, the AFC South is crucial. Houston faces five division games from Week 3 to Week 13, including a big Jaguars rematch in Week 10. If Trevor Lawrence takes the leap, and his top targets Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter live up to the hype, Jacksonville could be Houston’s biggest in-division threat. Still, with win totals sitting at 7.5 for both the Colts and Jaguars (and 5.5 for the Titans), the Texans have a clear path to control the South.
Midseason grind, late-season edge
The Week 6 bye comes at a smart spot, especially with brutal road games on the horizon: at Seahawks (MNF), home for the 49ers, and a revenge date in Baltimore—all within Weeks 5–8. The stretch from Week 12 to Week 14 (Bills, at Colts, at Chiefs) could define the Texans’ playoff seeding—or whether they make it at all.
But there’s hope in the home stretch. Three of their last four games are at NRG, where Houston has played its best football. If the team’s still in the hunt, hosting the Cardinals, Raiders, and potentially playing for the division title in Week 18 vs. the Colts is a favorable setup.
Key questions ahead
Bottom Line:
The Texans’ 2025 schedule is packed with statement opportunities and divisional tests. There’s enough home cooking in December to fuel a playoff push—but Houston will have to prove it can handle the road, the spotlight, and the rising competition in its own backyard.
Offseason observations
The Texans made some calculated and intriguing moves this offseason, especially on offense. They added dynamic weapons in WRs Christian Kirk, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, along with RB Woody Marks, who profiles as the best receiving back in the draft—likely influenced by the Patriots’ historical use of third-down specialists like James White and Shane Vereen. OC Nick Caley, OL Coach Cole Popovich, and GM Nick Caserio all have a history with the Pats.
Protecting C.J. Stroud remains a clear priority too, as the Texans added OT Aireontae Ursery in the draft and created a true open competition on the offensive line through free agency, featuring a deep group.
One of the most notable moves recently was Higgins’ fully guaranteed four-year, $11.7 million deal—a rarity for non-first-rounders. That level of commitment from Caserio signals strong conviction in both Higgins’ talent and character. It also hints that Houston may have considered him with their original 25th overall pick before trading back. With Patriots alumni like Caley and Popovich now on staff, and Caserio pulling the strings, it’s clear the Texans are building a system that blends New England and Rams discipline with Houston’s new-wave of offensive firepower.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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