No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. FOX
Old Big 12 rivals face off in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium tonight. Texas A&M came out of nowhere this year to have a great first season in the SEC, unexpected since the Aggies had been just so-so in the last decade in the Big 12. They went 10-2, winning 10 games for the first time since 1998 and were led by amazing Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel who set a record for total yards in a season by a freshman with 4,600. He was also the first freshman to win the Heisman. A&M was guided by first-year coach Kevin Sumlin, who came to College Station after great success at the University of Houston. The Aggies lost their first game of the year, narrowly, to Florida, 20-17, and also lost 24-19 to LSU in October. A&M pulled off maybe the upset of the year when it won at Alabama, 29-24, on Nov. 10. In that game, Manziel threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 92 yards. It also gained narrow wins during the year over Ole Miss (30-27), Louisiana Tech (59-57).
Oklahoma was typical Oklahoma this year -- good but not great. The Sooners also went 10-2, losing at home to Kansas State 24-19 and at home to Notre Dame, 30-13. Senior quarterback Landry Jones passed for nearly 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Sooners had narrow wins over West Virginia (50-49), Oklahoma State (51-48 OT), Baylor (42-34), and TCU (24-17).
I like Texas A&M in this game though I think it will be high-scoring and exciting. Oklahoma had a better non-conference schedule than A&M -- the Aggies played two FCS schools while the Sooners played just one and also had the contest against the Fighting Irish -- but A&M just really impressed me in the SEC this year, with just two losses to good teams by a combined eight points. Both teams had respectable defenses this year (A&M gave up 22.5 points per game while Oklahoma gave up 24.2 points per game) but I think that will go a longer way for the Aggies coming from the rough and tumble SEC.
Texas A&M 34, Oklahoma 27
Oklahoma was typical Oklahoma this year -- good but not great. The Sooners also went 10-2, losing at home to Kansas State 24-19 and at home to Notre Dame, 30-13. Senior quarterback Landry Jones passed for nearly 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Sooners had narrow wins over West Virginia (50-49), Oklahoma State (51-48 OT), Baylor (42-34), and TCU (24-17).
I like Texas A&M in this game though I think it will be high-scoring and exciting. Oklahoma had a better non-conference schedule than A&M -- the Aggies played two FCS schools while the Sooners played just one and also had the contest against the Fighting Irish -- but A&M just really impressed me in the SEC this year, with just two losses to good teams by a combined eight points. Both teams had respectable defenses this year (A&M gave up 22.5 points per game while Oklahoma gave up 24.2 points per game) but I think that will go a longer way for the Aggies coming from the rough and tumble SEC.
Texas A&M 34, Oklahoma 27
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