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Miami: Thursday, September 20th - 6:30 p.m. (ESPN), Orange Bowl - Miami, Florida OK Aggies, enough with the appetizer(s), it's time to get right to the main course. This is, after all, the meat and potatoes you've been waiting for, isn't it? Honestly, no major college football team - at least not one this side of Austin - is going to get much credit for beat downs of Montana State and the University of Louisiana-Monroe. But Miami, now there's a recognizable name and one that carries significant national meaning. Thursday night in prime-time, a national TV (ESPN) audience, and at the historic Orange Bowl no less. What more could you ask for? They simply don't get much bigger than this, at least not if you're currently positioned as A&M is and looking to place yourself among the nation's elite. College football, as strange as it may sound, is as much about perception as it is reality. If you can pull off a win in a game like this it can do wonders for recruiting. And recruiting top athletes, as Miami has been doing for the better part of two decades, is the ultimate driver in positioning your program for a run at the top. Thursday's game opens a tremendous door of opportunity for A&M. A win will not only run the record to 4-0 and have the Aggies entering Big 12 play believing that they're a contender, but it offers a chance for A&M to show the country - against a quality and recognizable opponent - that they're worthy and deserving of a climb up the national polls. The game, no matter the perceived strength of the '07 Miami Hurricane, is probably the most important non-conference contest for the Aggies since a visit to Boulder, Colorado in 1995. That year, the Aggies were positioned in the top 5 to begin the season and were searching for a national title. The trip didn't work out as the Aggies had planned and they eventually fell to the 7th ranked Buffaloes, 29-21. Going on the road against a quality opponent is never an easy task, and don't expect this one to be, either. Miami, like A&M, is out to earn back a measure of respect and this game provides the perfect platform for them to prove a few points as well. Under the direction of new head coach and former defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, the Hurricanes will be out to show that their once-proud program is still capable of producing big-time wins. The Hurricanes possess loads of talent and don't let anyone tell you differently; speed and athletic ability are still prevalent in South Florida, and many of those game-changing players just happen to be located on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, the Hurricane's strength (rush defense) will butt heads with A&M's strength (rush offense) and the team left standing will likely take home the W. If you prefer a physical brand of football and enjoy watching two college teams putting it all on the line and slugging it out to the finish, make sure and tune in for this one on Thursday night. It's going to be big-time head-knocker! Texas A&M offense versus Miami defense: Junior defensive end Calais Campbell is arguably the best player at his position in the country. Likely a 1st round pick in next April's NFL draft, Campbell, who registered 10 + sacks and 20 + tackles for loss as a sophomore, will be a difficult assignment for A&M left tackle Yemi Babalola. Right tackle Corey Clark will have an equally difficult task in containing left defensive end Eric Moncur. The edge of the Hurricane defense will probably be as tough a challenge as the Aggies will face all season. And as you might expect, Miami is equally stout up the middle with MLB Tavares Gooden. In fact, the Hurricanes, who yielded only 116 yards rushing to Oklahoma on 42 attempts (2.76 per carry), has allowed only three opponents to rush for over 100 yards during the last two seasons. Something simply must give; the Aggies currently rank 5th in the country and are averaging 296 yards on the ground while Miami is giving up just over 100 yards a contest through three games. Obviously, as has been mentioned above, the winner of this battle will likely take home the win. I personally believe the best approach for the Aggies would be to go right at those talented defensive ends with the option game, along with a heavy dosage of Jorvorskie Lane up the middle in an attempt to wear out the Hurricanes and keep them honest in their pursuit. Speaking of pursuit, safety Kenny Phillips is quite possibly the best prospect in the country at his position. Aggie fans desiring for something over the top may get their wish as the Canes will have to focus a majority of their attention on stopping A&M's run game. One thing is certain: If the Aggies are successful at moving the ball on the ground and putting points on the scoreboard against Miami, then there should be enough evidence to show that any other team on the schedule (save OU) will have difficulty stopping A&M offensively. Advantage: Even Texas A&M defense versus the Miami offense: Most of the attention leading up to the game has been focused on the battle between A&M's rush offense versus Miami's rush defense, but if the Aggies can't contain the Miami run game then the other debate probably won't matter. I can just about guarantee that the Miami offensive line has been challenged for this game and that they will attempt to come out and establish things on the ground. That would seem the logical approach, not only because the Aggies have shown weakness off tackle, but because Miami's pass game is currently in the dumpster, ranking 113th (130.7 yards per game) out of 119 teams. Running back Javarris James, just like his brother Edgerrin, is strong and physical and would the primary option should the Canes decide to keep it on the ground. Four Texans - WR Lance Leggett, TE DaJeon Farr and offensive tackles Jason Fox and Reggie Youngblood - are starters for the Miami offense. The Canes have struggled mightily on offense and this is where they would appear to be in a rebuilding mode. There is skill, as most of these players were top recruits coming out of high school, but they have yet to find themselves and are unsettled at quarterback. Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman, another Texan, have both shared time at the position, but neither has provided the leadership or level of performance that the Canes have historically produced. Once powerful and explosive, Miami is averaging a little more than 300 yards per game, ranking 99th. The Aggie defense hasn't faired much better, ranking 75th in total defense (383.33) and yielding 157 yards per game on the ground (67th). While the A&M offense versus the Miami defense could be a battle of epic proportions, the winner of the match between A&M's defense and Miami's offense could be more a matter who's on the field longer. Advantage: Even Special Teams - Other intangibles: I'm giving the Aggies the edge in this department because they are better in virtually every category - net punting, kickoff returns, turnover margin, fewest yards penalized per game, kickoff return yardage defense and time of possession. Further, Dennis Franchione is the most experienced, time-proven coach and he should have the edge in game-planning, which could prove pivotal as this game unfolds. Advantage: Texas A&M PREDICTION: This game is a virtual a toss-up. A powerful Miami run defense against a powerful A&M run offense. A less than stellar Miami offense against what has been, up to this point, a generous A&M defense. What you see is what you get for both A&M offensively and Miami defensively, but where the game could turn is on the other side of the ball.....If A&M is able to hold Miami's running game in check then they should have a distinct advantage, but if A&M plays soft and Miami is able to gain momentum and move the football on the ground, then it could be a long night for A&M on South Beach. This could be a very low-scoring affair where tunrovers eventually dictate the winner. The Aggies have always been very good at protecting the football under Dennis Franchione and I believe that is an absolute must in this game. I don't think Miami can show much more than they have, but there is an outside possibility that the Aggies could unveil a few different looks (on both sides) and gain an edge not previously expected. Randy Shannon has made comment that what you see is what you're going to get when it comes to the Aggies. I guess we'll find out in a couple days...... Texas A&M 20 - Miami 17 |