#24 Texas A&M Aggies at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Jones AT&T Stadium – Lubbock, Texas
Saturday, October 8, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: FX
Opening Line: Texas A&M -7
Current Line: Texas A&M -9 1/2
Opening Total: 68
Current Total: 71 1/2
Opening Money Line: Texas A&M -350 / Texas Tech +275
Current Money Line: Texas A&M -400 / Texas Tech +330
Texas A&M continues their Big 12 farewell tour in Lubbock to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders, as the Aggies are expected to join the SEC next season. Someone apparently forgot to tell A&M that they still play 4 quarters in football, because for two weeks in a row the Aggies have jumped out to huge halftime leads over highly ranked opponents only to completely fall apart in the second half and blow the game. Texas A&M lost at home two weeks ago to then #7 Oklahoma St 30-29, after leading 20-3 at halftime. Then last week, the Aggies played then #18 Arkansas in Arlington, Texas, and were up 35-17 at halftime but were outscored in the second half 25-3 to lose the game 42-38. The Aggies are 2-2 under coach Mike Sherman with wins over SMU 46-14 and Idaho 37-7. Texas Tech is coached by Tommy Tuberville is 4-0 this season but really hasn’t played anyone yet. The Red Raiders have home wins over Texas St 50-10 and Nevada 35-34, and road wins at New Mexico 59-13 and at Kansas last week 45-34. Texas A&M leads the overall series against Tech 36-32-1, and has won 2 straight including last year in College Station 45-27. This is the 70th meeting between the schools and could be the last for the foreseeable future as they will no longer be conference rivals.
The Texas A&M-Arkansas game featured over 1,200 yards total offense, 58 first downs and 80 points between the two teams. The Aggies had 2 costly turnovers including a fumble recovered in the end zone by the Razorbacks for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that tied up the game at 35. Texas A&M only scored 3 points in the second half but those points gave the Aggies the lead with just over four minutes to go. Arkansas scored with 1:41 to go to complete the comeback 42-38. The Aggies had 628 total yards including 381 rushing yards in the loss. Running back Christine Michael had 230 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns for the Aggies, and Cyrus Gray added 95 rushing yards and 2 scores. Arkansas had 581 total yards including 510 passing yards.
Texas A&M is averaging 518.5 yards a game and 37.5. They have a balanced attack with 294.8 passing yards and 223.8 rushing yards a game. The Aggies rank in the top 25 in all of those categories. A&M has 8 turnovers and has allowed 2 sacks. The Aggies are 22/49 on third and fourth down conversions and 17/18 scoring in the red zone with 12 touchdowns. TAMU gives up 399.8 yards a game and 23.2 points a game. It is kind of a good news / bad news situation for the Aggies as they have the nation’s 5th best rush defense allowing only 63 yards a game. However, teams don’t have to run the ball as A&M has the nation’s worst pass defense allowing a generous 336.8 yards a game. The Aggies have forced 3 turnovers and 18 sacks this season. A&M opponents are 28/64 on third and fourth down conversions, and 13/14 scoring in the red zone with 8 touchdowns.
A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is 100/147 passing with 1,139 yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, along with 15 carries, 121 yards, and a touchdown. Michael has 57 carries, 408 yards, and 5 touchdowns, to go with 4 catches for 24 yards. Gray has 80 carries, 363 yards, and 6 touchdowns, along with 10 catches for 74 yards and a score. Receiver Ryan Swope has 380 yards and 2 scores. Jeff Fuller has 26 catches, 268 yards and 2 scores. Tight end Michael Lamothe is questionable with a concussion but he only has 4 catches this season. Kicker Randy Bullock is 16/18 on extra points and 8/9 on field goals with 46 yards. Three Aggie defensive players are questionable or doubtful with leg injuries. Defensive lineman Johnathan Mathis and defensive backs Steven Campbell and Steven Terrell are all listed on the injury report. That isn’t good for an already beleaguered secondary as they take on another high powered offensive attack in Texas Tech.
Last week, Kansas was up 20-7 at the end of the first quarter against Texas Tech. However, the Jayhawks could only manage to score 14 more points for the rest of the game as Texas Tech came roaring back to win 45-34 and cover the 6.5 college football betting line. The Red Raiders had 530 total yards including 366 passing yards from quarterback Seth Doege who had 3 touchdown passes and an interception. Running back Eric Stephens rushed for 126 yards and 2 scores. Texas Tech had just the one turnover but they did have 17 penalties for 154 yards. Kansas had 478 total yards, including exactly 239 rushing and passing yards. The Jayhawks had 8 penalties and 4 turnovers in the loss.
Texas Tech has one of the most potent offenses in the country averaging 525 total yards and 47.2 points a game. The Red Raiders are averaging 345.5 passing yards a game. Those numbers are all ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Red Raiders have 3 turnovers and have allowed 5 sacks. Texas Tech is 37/64 on third and fourth down conversions, and 22/23 scoring in the red zone with 21 touchdowns. The Red Raider defense is definitely bend but don’t break. They give up a ton of yards but not a lot of points. Tech is allowing 427 yards including 229 rushing yards a game. However, Texas Tech is only allowing 22.8 points a game. Texas Tech has forced 11 turnovers and 7 sacks. Red Raider opponents are 26/63 on third and fourth down conversions, and 12/16 scoring in the red zone, with 9 touchdowns.
Doege is 118/161 passing with 1,315 yards, 14 touchdowns and an interception along with 18 carries for 84 yards. Stephens has 87 carries, 468 yards, and 7 touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 116 yards. DeAndre Washington has 21 carries, 106 yards, and 2 touchdowns along with 6 catches for 16 yards. Receiver Darrin Moore has 21 catches, 339 yards, and 4 touchdowns. He missed the last game with a knee injury and is doubtful for this game as well. Eric Ward has 20 catches for 215 yards, and 7 scores. Alex Torres, Cornelius Douglas, and jacoby Franks will all get significant targets especially if Moore can’t go. Kicker Donnie Carona is 25/25 on extra points and 2/3 on field goals with a long of 46 yards.
Texas Tech is 3-1 against the spread this season and the total is also 3-1. Texas A&M is 1-3 ATS and the total is 2-2 this year. Texas A&M has won and covered the last two meetings against Texas Tech and both have gone over the total. A&M is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 conference games, 4-9 ATS in their last 13 conference games, 2-5 in their last 7 on turf, 1-4 in the last 5 following a straight up loss, 1-5 following a game where they failed to cover, and 1-5 in road games against teams with records. Texas Tech is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 as a home under dog of 3.5 to 10 points, 5-1 in the last 6 as a home underdog, 5-2 in their last overall, and on turf, and 2-8 in the last 10 following a cover.
Expect a ton of points as both offenses are explosive and the defenses are mediocre at best, though the Aggies do have a great pass rush. This line seems a little high to me as neither team can stop the other one.
Our college football handicappers are red hot and are looking forward to another successful weekend. Don’t miss out on anymore winners!
