Texas A&M Aggies at Oklahoma State Cowboys
Thursday, 9/30/10, 7:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma State -3.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma State -3
Opening Total: 65.5
Current Total: 66
Current Moneyline: Oklahoma State -150/Texas A&M +130
Texas A&M will hit the road for the first time this season and take on undefeated Oklahoma State in a nationally-televised contest on Thursday night at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Aggies have recorded a solid 22-14 record on the network. The team leads the all-time series with the Cowboys, 17-8, dating back to the first game in 1913, including a 10-4 advantage since the Big 12 Conference’s first season in 1996. Head coach Mike Sherman is winless in two tries against Oklahoma State. The perfect 3-0 start isn’t all the surprising for the Aggies, as the program has compiled a dominating 66-10 non-conference record at Kyle Field since 1980. Texas A&M is 9-24-1 ATS in their last 34 games as a road underdog. With this line bouncing around a key number of 3, be sure to shop around and get the best number by comparing odds from multiple sportsbooks and you can do that on our college football odds page.
The Aggies enter Big 12 play ranking ninth-nationally in total offense and tenth in total defense, which makes them one of just three teams to rank in the top 10 in both categories. The others are Boise State and Ohio State. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are two of only 18 teams that average more than 200 yards rushing and passing nationally. “We’ve played pretty decent football,” A&M safety Trent Hunter said. “I’m satisfied with how we’ve been so far.” Fans are beginning to be concerned about quarterback Jerrod Johnson’s health, after struggling against a Florida International University defense that ranked 119th nationally in total defense last season. Sherman insists that his signal caller is in good shape with no recurring problems from his off-season shoulder surgery. The Over is 6-1 in the Aggies last seven Thursday games.
Oklahoma State will open the Big 12 slate when they host the Aggies and it will be the team’s second national television game of the season. Thursday’s game will be the Cowboys fourth straight home contest to open the 2010 campaign, marking just the third time in school history that has happened. The team’s bye week came at a favorable time, according to head coach Mike Gundy. “Open weeks are always good,” he said. Oklahoma State is 4-6 against the Aggies in Stillwater and the teams have split the last eight meetings. Dating back to the 2002 season, only nine points separate the two schools in cumulative scoring. The Cowboys are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games as a home favorite.
The Cowboys are one of the youngest teams in the nation, as sixteen players have made their first career starts in 2010. OSU has 1,175 yards receiving through three games and 80 of those yards have been by seniors. The offense ranks second nationally in total offense, but the unit has struggled at times in goal-line situations. Quarterback Brandon Weeden has thrown for touchdowns in both situations this season from the one-yard line, but the team knows it may have a weakness in short yardage situations. The Cowboys are 6-8 in Big 12 openers and have a 3-2 mark under the direction of head coach Mike Gundy in such games. It’s also important to note that the squad has opened conference play at home just four times, posting a 3-1 record in those games.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the series has gone over the total in the last four meetings at Oklahoma State and five of six overall. The total is also 5-0 Over/Under in the Cowboys last five games following a bye week. At the time of publish Maddux Sports is still looking at this game and if we release a premium pick on this game it will be released on Thursday morning. Be sure to visit our college football sports picks page to grab this weeks picks package including our 20 unit game of the year. Currently on a 71% pick run in college football you can rest assured you will be on the right side of this weeks games.
