Missouri @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2007 ) Texas A&M 26, Missouri 40

No. 19 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) will take its undefeated record outside state lines for the first time Saturday, when the Tigers travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M (3-2, 0-1 Big 12).

The matchup begins a key four-game stretch for the Tigers in the battle for the Big 12 North title. They’ll take on Oklahoma next week at home before trips to Nebraska and Texas Tech.

The Aggies come into the game on a two-game slide, after near misses against No. 18 Oklahoma State (38-35) and No. 13 Arkansas (24-17).

Missouri’s defense and special teams shined in last week’s 26-0 drubbing of Colorado. While the offense sputtered, the Tigers managed to block a punt and a field goal, earn a safety and execute a fake punt on a drive that ended in a touchdown.

Missouri is surprisingly third in the county in scoring defense, allowing just 11.2 points per game. The Tigers will have their work cut out for them this week though, going up against an Aggie offense averaging over 470 yards and 35 points per game.

Texas A&M senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson has been hot and cold this year. He’s averaging almost 300 yards passing per game and has tossed 13 touchdown passes. However, he’s also thrown nine interceptions, including four a piece against Florida International and Oklahoma State. It was the Oklahoma State game in which he also threw for five touchdown passes and 409 yards.

The Tigers will look to capitalize on A&M’s inability to take care of the ball. The Tigers rank No. 10 in the nation in turnover margin at +1.0, while the Aggies come in -1.2 and having lost 18 turnovers in their last four games. Missouri has won 28 straight games when winning the turnover battle.

Texas A&M can help take the pressure off Johnson by giving the ball to star sophomore running back Christine Michael, who’s averaging more than 100 yards per game and has yet to fumble in his career, which consists of 265 carries.

The good news for Missouri this week is that junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert is expected to start after suffering a hip injury during the third quarter of the Colorado game. Gabbert’s numbers have been solid this year, but not very flashy for a guy many think could jump to the next level after this season. He’s averaging 246 yards passing per game and is completing two-thirds of his passes. Gabbert has just seven touchdown passes five games in to go along with 3 interceptions.

Missouri got close to nothing out of their running back by committee strategy last week. The Tigers used four different running backs that combined for just 51 yards on 18 carries. Junior De’Vion Moore leads the team with 36 carries, while freshman Henry Josey leads in yards (226) and touchdowns (4).

There’s not as much of a logjam in the passing game. Sophomore wide receiver T.J. Moe and junior tight end Michael Egnew have been hogging the ball for the most part, hauling in 44 and 39 passes respectively. The next highest total is Jerrell Jackson with 13 receptions.

Missouri sophomore standout defensive end Aldon Smith is again listed as doubtful this week, after suffering a leg injury in week three. Smith set a school record with 11.5 sacks last year.

The last time Missouri visited College Station was in 2006 when they came into the game ranked No. 19 with a 5-0 record. The Tigers wound up losing 25-19.