College game of the day: Texas at Texas A&M
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MARC LAWRENCE - They say the harder you work, the luckier you get
November 25, 2009
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Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies (+21, 62)
Millions of turkeys will have been devoured and millions of dollars wagered when No. 3 Texas takes on Texas A&M at Kyle Field at College Station in a key Big 12 battle Thanksgiving night on ESPN at 8 p.m. (ET).
Gametime temperature will be in the mid-50s with a 30 percent chance of rain, under partly cloudy skies.
Night moves
The game opened Texas as a 22.5-point favorite. The initial line moved a point and a half in A&M’s favor with the Longhorns now favored by 21.
Record setter
Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy, runner-up in last year’s Heisman Trophy race, set an all-time NCAA FBS mark for wins in a career when he improved to 43-7 as a starter in Texas’ 31-point pummeling of Kansas.
McCoy completed 32-of-41 passes for 396 yards and four TDs to become just the fifth player in FBS history to eclipse 14,000 total career yards.
"I don't think we could have scripted it any better," head coach Mack Brown said. "He's in here for a big finish and he was sending that message."
The message was sent to Heisman Trophy voters.
By the horns
Texas has scored 34 or more points in all but one game (Oklahoma) this season. Behind McCoy, the Horns are averaging 40.2 points per game.
The Longhorns are 12-5 SU and ATS in regular season weekday games since 1993, but only 1-2 SU and ATS behind McCoy – all three games were against Texas A&M.
Wake up, Aggie
The Aggies have fallen asleep in front of the cameras this season, going 0-5 in televised games. They have won all six of their games that weren't on TV, including last week’s 38-3 beat down against Baylor.
"These kids are about ready to give me a heart attack," head coach Mike Sherman said. "One week it's one thing; one week it's something else. But I was proud of them. I thought they did a good job of responding to the challenge they had in front of them."
That mission was to become bowl-eligible and they did that with the 35-point win against Baylor.
Strengths and weaknesses
The Longhorns are the nation’s No. 1 ranked team in total defense, surrendering 239 ypg. The Aggies are ranked No. 102 in team defense, allowing 444 ypg.
Texas has held nine of 11 foes under 100 yards rushing this season, with 134 yards on the ground by Oklahoma State being the most. Texas A&M is 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in 2009 in games in which it has rushed for 200 or more yards in a game. The Aggies are 0-5 SU and 0-4-1 ATS in games this season in which they failed to eclipse the 200-yard mark.
With a win tonight and in next week’s Big 12 title game, UT is ticketed for an appearance in this season’s BCS Championship game. A&M is likely headed to the Independence Bowl or the Texas Bowl.
From the archives
Undefeated teams in their last game of the season are 13-3 ATS when facing an opponent with a .555 winning percentage or less.
The Aggies are 2-4 SU and 4-1 ATS as a series host (all as a dog) and 14-2-2 ATS as a conference home dog off a win of six or more points.