ESPN College GameDay 2016: Week 8 Location Hosts, TV Schedule and Predictions

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, welcomes ESPN College GameDay Saturday for a collision between undefeated SEC powerhouses the Texas A&M Aggies (No. 6) and Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 1).

It doesn't get much bigger than this in SEC country, with the Aggies and Tide looking for breathing room in the SEC West while the rest of the conference attempts to keep pace.

Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, among others, will take to the Walk of Champions outside Bryant-Denny Stadium before a major showdown that fans can't afford to miss.

ESPN College GameDay Week 8 Info                                           

Date: Saturday, Oct. 22

Time (ET): 9 a.m. to noon; game is at 3:30 p.m.

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Watch: ESPN; game is on CBS

Live Stream: WatchESPN; CBSSports.com

Preview

Alabama looks, in a word, unstoppable. The Crimson Tide keep taking down ranked opponent after ranked opponent, looking well on their way to winning out before reaching the College Football Playoff.

As a wise man likes to say, though, "not so fast, my friend." The Tide faithful will want to catch College GameDay Saturday because, as ESPN MediaZone's Rachel Margolis Siegal noted, Corso is only 3-3 over the last six times he has donned Alabama headgear.

Indeed, the Aggies aren't an opponent to overlook. Quarterback Trevor Knight has been smooth this year, with nine touchdowns to five interceptions in large part because running back Trayveon Williams has cruised to an 8.6 yards-per-carry average with five scores.

As a whole? The Aggies average 6.8 yards per carry and have 19 rushing scores.

Pro Football Focus' Vinnie Ronca provided some advanced numbers to explain how impressive Williams has been as the lead back:

"

He’s averaged 5.06 yards after contact per attempt and ranks eighth nationally in elusive rating with 27 forced missed tackles on just 95 total touches. Williams has also provided the Aggies with the home-run threat they were lacking, leading the nations’ running backs with a 57.1 breakaway percentage and 11 runs of 15 yards or longer.

"

This effectiveness naturally sets up huge passes over the top; that's why seven Aggies targets boast an average of at least 14.5 yards per catch.

That's not to say Alabama isn't up to the task. The Crimson Tide have smashed through four Top 20 teams—and only one of those games was even close:

Date	Opponent	Outcome
Sept. 3	No. 20 USC	52-6
Sept. 17	No. 19 Ole Miss	48-43
Oct. 8	No. 16 Arkansas	49-30
Oct. 15	No. 9 Tennessee	49-10

Sheer dominance aside, Alabama head coach Nick Saban isn't letting his guys overlook the Aggies.

"They are highly ranked in a lot of categories, whether it's turnover ratio, scoring defense or their ability to run the ball," Saban said ahead of the game, according to ESPN.com. "They have a very high-powered, balanced offense."

Saban, like the rest of the country, understands the need to watch out for Texas A&M defender Myles Garrett. Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts has nine touchdowns to three interceptions, and the team averages 6.2 yards per carry with 20 rushing scores, but a hiccup or two at home against an opportunistic defense would let the Aggies runners control the pace of the game.

With playoff aspirations on the line, two of the nation's best teams collide in a war of wills. The team that imposes its physical prowess first and most often will have a major advantage.

Prediction

Las Vegas doesn't seem to agree that this game could go either way—according to Odds Shark, the Crimson Tide are 18-point favorites.

That's an eye-popping margin, but it isn't so wild when one remembers the two sides share a similar recent opponent. The Aggies played Tennessee last time out and needed double overtime to get a 45-38 victory at home. The Crimson Tide traveled to face the Volunteers for their most recent game and took a 49-10 victory.

Granted, one comparable game isn't enough to write off a contest. But Texas A&M banks on the ground game in order to control the pace. Alabama, at home, could stifle this and get ahead. From there, it's a matter of forcing the Aggies into mistakes through the air.

As usual, look for the Crimson Tide to apply the chokehold after grabbing an early lead.

Prediction: Alabama 40, Texas A&M 24

Stats and information via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.