Texas vs Texas A&M Preview: One Last Time with Feeling

Nov 24, 2011

COLLEGE STATION – It’s hard to believe that this, the 118^th gridiron meeting between long-time blood rivals Texas and Texas A&M, is the very last meeting for the foreseeable future. With A&M destined to become, mid-level (at best) chum for the rapacious sharks that swim within the SEC deeps, and the Longhorns entrenched in defiant, “I will too cut off my nose to spite my face!” mode, the curtain falls tonight on one of college football’s greatest rivalries. About all I can say is “what a damn shame.”

Historically, the series is a mismatch, with the Longhorns, college football’s second-winning-est team of all time, holding a commanding 75-37-5 margin. In recent years, however, the Aggies have given as good as they have gotten, including victories a season ago (24-17), and recently, the years 2006 and 2007. It is a rivalry that engenders attitude and animosity, passion and vitriol; it’s the kind of series that the fans love too. It is civil war, plain and simple, one that has been fought every year for a long, long time. R.I.P. I will miss it.

Texas O vs Texas A&M D

The Longhorns at 6-4, following offensive meltdowns against Mizzou and Kansas State, enter tonight’s game hobbled, but mending, anticipating the return of long-missed, freshman phenom, WR Jaxon Shipley. With the impotent and lethargic non-showings of the Horns’ passing game the past two weeks, Shipley’s return is manna from heaven for the much-maligned, highly-beleaguered, two-headed QB tandem of David Ash and Case McCoy, both of whom have suffered in the big-playmaking receiver’s absence. Expect to see the Longhorns test a shaky Aggie secondary (118^th out of 120) deep and often. Expect, as well, for the Longhorns to attempt to push the Aggie D line around, assert themselves in the fashion that they did against Kansas and Texas Tech – it seems so long ago now. As the Aggies rank 15^th nationally against the run, the Horns will need to see a healthier Malcolm Brown and/or Joe Bergeron. I think they’ll get it tonight too. That said, something tells me this is going to be a lot lower-scoring game than oddsmakers (53.0 over) and fans think.

Texas D vs Texas A&M O

The Aggies come into this last rivalry game hobbling themselves. Gone for the season is RB Christine Michael, a speedy, graceful stallion of a back who finished the season with 899 yards rushing. Hurt and questionable for the game is bruising RB Cyrus Gray (1045 yds rushing), who gouged and gutted the Longhorns for 234 yards on 27 carries a year ago. Against the Texas D this season (10^th nationally – 8^th in run defense), I’m not sure either back would gain much against this vastly improved defensive unit. For the Aggies to be successful, they will need another strong game from senior QB Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has had a fine season tossing 26 TDs against 11 INTs, while passing for just under 3200 yards. His main target is WR Ryan Swope (1069 yds), who is having a monster year. Potent, the Aggie offense has scored 40.9 points per game and averaged 512 yards offense per game, both in the top ten. I think the Aggies will move the ball, but won’t score anything close to their seasonal average.

Predicted Score

The Longhorn defense, so stingy this season will have their work cut out for them. I think they will have to force some Aggie turnovers – and convert one for points themselves- to help a struggling offense still trying to get healthy, still trying to find its identity. That’s a lot of pressure to overcome and I think this young team is still a year or two away to handle and overcome that kind of pressure. So, although I hate to say it, the Longhorn slide continues. A great defensive effort keeps the game in respectability, but a scatter-shot offense just won’t get the job done.

Texas 10 Texas A&M 24 (line: Texas + 8.5)