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The Schedule -- So What! "A&M is a very good team and absolutely loaded on the offensive side of the ball, but that schedule is just too tough for them to make a run at the top." Or, "If it wasn't for that difficult road schedule, the Aggies would have probably been picked to win the Big 12 championship." Those are just two of the expert comments we've heard as the Aggies prepare to gear up for the 2007 football season. Both comments make solid points, but I say - "so what!" If you're the better team then you're the better team, and Texas A&M is probably going to be better than anyone else they'll line up against in 2007. Montana State? - No way, not at Kyle Field and I don't care what happened with Colorado last season. Fresno State? - You're kidding, right? They have 4 starters returning on defense and they'll have to stop an explosive A&M offense at Kyle Field, for four quarters in the burning September sun. Louisiana-Monroe? - Uh…No! @ Miami? - This would be the first legitimate question and one I'm struggling with myself. Miami hasn't done much recently, but that can tend to fool a lot of people. This is a new year and the Canes have a new coach, Randy Shannon, who'll be trying to make his own name in South Florida. Players usually play hard for their new coach and it's a Thursday night tilt on ESPN. What better stage for Miami and its new coach to prove they're back? No matter what you think of their recent past, Miami has always recruited athletes and they'll have plenty of speed, especially on defense, and defense is what you need to stop Texas A&M. On top of that, their new coach used to be the defensive coordinator and you can count on the Hurricanes being jacked up and geared to stop the vaunted A&M attack. This may be the Aggies' lowest point total of the season, but I still believe they are the better all-around team. The Aggies should hold a significant edge offensively and I believe they can outscore Miami. On the flip side, I think it would be difficult for Miami to outscore A&M. If the Aggies do as they usually do and minimize turnovers, then this should be a close, lower scoring affair that should fall in A&M's favor. Baylor? - Uh….No! Oklahoma State? - Not a bad question. Last year the game was a shoot-out, but guess which team came out on top - ON THE ROAD? Yes, the Aggies own the Cowboys, having won 9 of 11 times versus OSU since the inception of the Big 12. Oklahoma State is replacing their defensive line and their defense has never been their saving grace anyway. A&M out-gained the Cowboys in Stillwater (423 total yards to 359) so I don't really see that changing at Kyle Field. The Aggies should win this one and probably cover the number. The Cowboys will get a few points on the board, but they shouldn't be able to outscore A&M. Sound familiar? @ Texas Tech? Most will say this is an extremely good question, and considering the history over the past decade and a half I can see the point, but - NO! Texas Tech has to replace virtually everyone and their entire defense will have to be rebuilt. Tech's Mickey Mouse offense and what it has done (numbers wise and to A&M), shouldn't be a factor, especially against a powerful offensive attack like the Aggies. Last year, aside from the Hail Mary that resulted in an 80 yard touchdown drive in the 4th quarter, the Red Raiders didn't score a point in the second half and registered only 56 yards of offense - a half that saw A&M run 42 plays and control the ball for over 21 minutes. You think the Aggies figured out at halftime that the best way to stop Tech was to keep the football themselves? The rebuilt Tech defensive line will average about 265 pounds. Hello Jorvorskie Lane! @ Nebraska? The Huskers beat A&M at Kyle Field by a point in 2006. NU loses their starting quarterback while the Aggies return virtually everyone. A&M out-gained Nebraska in total yards, 443 to 390. Point - the Aggies should be the better team, so who cares where the game is played? And oh yea, Nebraska will have to answer a pressing question in the defensive line. Kansas? This one could be a bit tougher than most expect. The Jayhawks are a well coached team and played the Aggies tough in Lawrence last season. I'll say a win for A&M, but I'm picking Kansas as a surprise team in the North and wouldn't go too far out on a limb in this one. You can probably go ahead and pencil this down now; the last three games for the Aggies will likely decide both divisions of the Big 12 conference. Oklahoma and Texas (the South) are positioned on the bottom side of the schedule and a trip to Missouri (the North) is sandwiched in-between. @ Oklahoma? The Sooners' problems are that they don't score very many points against a better than average defense, and they'll now have to do it with a new quarterback. Their offensive line is one of the best in the conference and even with the loss of Adrian Peterson to the NFL they shouldn't see a drop-off in their potent running attack. However, take away the quick 1st quarter points (14) scored in last year's A&M game and it wasn't a very productive day for the Sooners - 3 points and 75 total yards. I'll call this one just like the Miami game. A&M can outscore OU - OU will have difficulty outscoring A&M. @ Missouri? This could be one of A&M's toughest road games of the year because the Tigers can score points and do it in a hurry. MU has a vast array of weapons returning, including their quarterback and one of the top tight end combinations in the country. I believe the Aggies MUST retain the football and minimize turnovers to take home the W in this one. Missouri, like many of A&M's other '07 opponents, will have to do some major rebuilding in the defensive front seven. In last season's game, Jorvorskie Lane rushed for 127 yards on 28 carries with most of those yards coming in the 4th quarter as the Aggies controlled the ball and Missouri's defense wore down. I see this game as a toss-up simply because it's on the road, but A&M could eventually hold the edge because the Tigers' weakness (rebuilt defensive front 7) must go up against A&M offensive strength. Texas? A&M was better last year and they'll be better again this year at Kyle Field. The toughest games on the schedule, as I see it, are @ Miami, @ Oklahoma, @ Missouri and Texas. I think the Aggies are, on paper, superior to any of those clubs and could win every game, but there's always other considerations…. like the ball not bouncing your way; injuries becoming a factor since three of the four games are on the back end of the schedule; and having a tough time maintaining momentum because three of the games are on the road where strange things seem to often happen. I believe three other games - Oklahoma State, @ Nebraska and Kansas - are a little less difficult, but could, for one reason or another, prove equally as tough. Oklahoma State is a solid club offensively and that could be the type games that give A&M the most trouble; Nebraska is on the road; and Kansas could be a surprise team in the North. Two of these three, however, are at home, so the flip-side of what I mentioned above tends to play to A&M's favor. The schedule is difficult. Those making that point are certainly on the mark, but I believe the thing being missed the most is that the better team usually wins. I just see A&M, simply, as the better team in every contest. The Aggies don't have to replace their quarterback, the defense returns virtually in tact and with more experience - and a second-year and reportedly more aggressive defensive coordinator - and the offense is simply loaded with explosive, NFL-caliber players. Furthermore, aside from Miami, it appears as if a majority of the teams A&M will play this season have questions on the defensive side of the ball. Another consideration….I don't believe the Big 12 conference was as strong in '06 as it has been in previous years - offenses didn't appear as explosive and defenses at the top end didn't seem as dominant. Texas struggled with Iowa, OU lost to Boise State and A&M was beaten handily by Cal in the bowl games. A conference lacking top-flight offensive firepower will play into A&M's hands this season. Why? Because the Aggies have those type players and big-time players win big-time games. Additionally, top 25 polls and picks are, sometimes, mistakenly based on what teams have done in previous years rather than on strengths that certain teams possess this season. For example, many believe that just because Texas and Oklahoma have recently dominated the South that it will probably happen again, and it may, but A&M beat Texas last season and OU was on the ropes before pulling it out by a point at Kyle Field. Another example, A&M has lost to Tech in Lubbock so the thinking is it's bound to happen again, but that doesn't realistically seem possible this season. Bookmark and save that prediction if you'd like, but I don't see the Red Raiders coming close to A&M this season in Lubbock. I think the Big 12 conference in 2007 will be more of a player on the national scene, especially since Texas and OU have both started inside the top 10, but I think the team best positioned to surge to the top is Texas A&M. The factors discussed above which sometimes turn games, especially road games, usually don't play as much a part when the visiting team is better across the board. And the Aggies certainly are - on both sides of the ball. I'm calling 11 wins and a South division championship after a win over Texas at Kyle Field to end the season, but don't be surprised if the Aggies are positioned at the end to make a run at something larger. Much larger! 2007 Texas A&M Football Schedule 2007 Preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll |