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NCAAF - Texas Longhorns look to stuff Aggies on Turkey Day
Texas Longhorns look to stuff Aggies on Turkey Day
Monday, November 23, 2009 03:38 PM ET
Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns are just two steps away from the BCS Championship with the first step this Thursday when they meet the Aggies in College Station.
College football tradition and Thanksgiving collide on Thursday when third-ranked Texas battles in-state rival Texas A&M.
The Longhorns have already clinched the Big 12 South and will meet Nebraska in the conference championship December 5, but a loss to the Aggies knocks them out of consideration for the BCS National Championship.
Texas A&M just became bowl eligible with its latest triumph, but the highlight of its season would be a victory over Texas. The Aggies are a disappointing 3-4 this season in Big 12 South action, ahead of only last-place Kansas.
Las Vegas sports books have installed Texas as a 21-point favorite over Texas A&M, with no total yet posted.
Texas (11-0 straight up, 5-5 against the spread) continued its unblemished regular season by routing Kansas last weekend as 28-point home ‘chalk,’ 51-20. The 71 points went about two touchdowns above the 57 ½-point 'total.'
The Longhorns jumped out to a 21-point halftime advantage, 27-6, and finished the contest with advantages in first downs (29-16), rushing yards (136-47), passing yards (396-256) and time of possession (32:35-27:25). Senior signal caller Colt McCoy was 32-of-41 passing for 396 yards with four touchdowns, while running back Tre’ Newton had 12 carries for 66 yards and a score.
Texas A&M (6-5 SU, 5-5 ATS) snapped a two-game SU and ATS losing skid by routing Baylor last weekend as a 5 ½-point home favorite, 38-3. The combined 41 points never seriously threatened the 61-point closing total.
The Aggies controlled the entire game, finishing the contest with advantages in first downs (26-18), rushing yards (375-82), turnovers forced (3-1) and time of possession (32:56-27:04). Quarterback Jerrod Johnson completed 19-of-25 passes for 153 yards with two touchdowns, while running back Christine Michael had 11 carries for 116 yards and two scores.
Texas running back DJ Monroe (legal problems), defensive tackle Calvin Howell (concussion), cornerback Aaron Williams (leg) and offensive guard Mason Walters (foot) are questionable against the Aggies, while cornerback Eryon Barnett (shoulder) is out.
Texas A&M cornerback Coryell Judie (shoulder), defensive back Marcus Gold (foot) and wide receiver Roger Holland (concussion) are out versus the Longhorns.
The Longhorns breezed to a 49-9 win in Austin when the two old rivals met in 2008. Texas covered the 35 ½-point line, its first ATS win in the series since 2004. The 'Horns hold a 5-4-1 ATS advantage the last 10 meetings, with the 'under' paying off four of the last six.
Saturday's meeting will be the 116th in this series that dates to 1894 that has been dominated by the Longhorns (74-36-5 SU).
Texas follows this rivalry game with the Big XII Championship Game against Nebraska December 5 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M concludes its regular season with this matchup before awaiting its bowl fate.
Thursday’s forecast for College Station, Texas calls for partly cloudy skies, with a high of 67 degrees and a low of 43. ESPN will provide coverage of the matchup beginning at 5:00 p.m. (PT).