Texas A&M Preview

Teams: #7 Oklahoma State 3-0 (0-0) vs. #8 Texas A&M 2-0 (0-0)
Time: 2:30 PM CST
TV: ABC (coverage map here)
On the call: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Jeannine Edwards

Kickoff: If you, like me, want a reprieve from all the bureaucratic meddling in this this thing we call amateur sports then I have a gem for you at 2:30 CST. It’s the first in a 5-part series of exams this Oklahoma State squad must ace to be walking the streets of bourbon in four months. It’s a gut-wrenching rematch for the Aggies and a heart-twisting week for the Cowboys who are dealing with the loss of one of their own. The scene is set for OSU to reveal itself as a legitimate top 5 team and the curtain is drawn for the Cowboys to shove A&M through as they exit stage right for the SEC in nine calendar months. Kyle will be swaying (this Kyle will be swaying too, more from a nervous twitch than a fervent love for my university though), and the nation will watch to see which Big 12 dark horse will challenge OU for the rights to play for the Big 12 crown.

For entertainment purposes:
Spread: Texas A&M -4.5
Over/Under: 67.5

I’ll take OSU if I can get them at +4.5 and maybe even 4. I mean this really feels like a 3-4 point game at most. As for the over/under, I’m going under but I’m not excited about it. Rarely does an offensive dream like this live up to its billing and I don’t think tomorrow will be much different, especially with how much emotion will be flowing on both sides.

Video to get you excited:

A few stats you should know:

What I’m excited for:
It’s the biggest game since last year’s Nebraska game. Yes, Bedlam last year, but by that point OSU was already out of the national title race. All that was left to play for was a BCS game and a throttling of UConn. I want title game appearances, not BCS berths.

OSU will win if:
They hold A&M under 30.

How worried I am (out of 10):

Uniform prediction:

Gun to my head: A&M 34-30 – I think OSU’s offense is better than A&M’s but I think A&M’s defense is better than OSU’s by a wider margin than OSU’s offense is better. Special teams to OSU because of Sharp and…well…you guys know how I feel about Gilbert. There’s just something I can’t put my finger on that doesn’t feel like OSU’s escaping College Station with a W. Trust me, more than anyone on earth, I hope I’m wrong.

Give me your predictions below!