Texas A&M @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 9, 2010 ) Arkansas 24, Texas A&M 17

THE STORY: Once and future conference foes, No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 18 Arkansas enter Saturday’s game on the heels of disappointing losses in their conference openers. The Aggies, who were officially accepted into the SEC on Sunday, let a 20-3 halftime lead slip away last week against No. 6 Oklahoma State, while the Crimson Tide of No. 2 Alabama rolled over Arkansas.

Arkansas has won both games since the Razorbacks and Aggies resumed their old Southwest Conference rivalry with an annual meeting at Cowboys Stadium two years ago, including a 24-17 win last season. Two games after last season’s defeat, Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman replaced quarterback Jerrod Johnson with current starter Ryan Tannehill and the Aggies went on a six-game winning streak that ended with a loss to LSU in the Cotton Bowl.

Both teams feature prolific offenses; Arkansas ranks 18th in the country, scoring 38.8 points per game, followed closely by the Aggies (37.3) at 25th.

TV: ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M -3

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (2-1, 0-1 Big 12): Led by Tannehill, a senior, the Aggies boast a bevy of talent at the offensive skill positions. Junior Ryan Swope is the team’s leading receiver, and senior Jeff Fuller (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) is a big target and a vertical threat. Running back Cyrus Gray has been less explosive in his senior year and was bottled up for 35 yards on 13 carries last week. Last season he ran for more than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, most of which came after he took over the featured spot in the backfield in the final seven games. Gray is complemented by junior Christine Michael, who’s averaging more than 7 yards per carry with a more limited workload. Defensively, the Aggies have eight starters back from last year’s unit, but were burned by Oklahoma State in their first test of the season, yielding 438 yards through the air as three Cowboy receivers logged at least 10 catches.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-1, 0-1 SEC): In their fourth season under coach Bobby Petrino, the Razorbacks field an offense with elite talent at receiver and possibly at quarterback, but last week’s loss in Tuscaloosa exposed some weaknesses. Arkansas has one of the nation’s deepest receiving corps, and junior quarterback Tyler Wilson looked sharp during parts of his first SEC start, but without last year’s leading rusher, Knile Davis, the Razorback offense was one-dimensional (209 passing yards, 17 rushing yards). Davis is out for the season with an ankle injury and replacements Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson haven’t had much luck behind an offensive line which features three new starters, including true freshman Mitch Smothers at tackle. Arkansas played last week without either of their starting defensive ends after junior Tenarius Wright broke his arm in the first quarter. Senior Jake Bequette, a second team All-SEC selection last season and one of the team’s best defenders, is expected to return from a hamstring injury this week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arkansas holds the all-time advantage, 40-24-3, in a series that dates back to 1903.

2. Arkansas’ 17 rushing yards last week marks the lowest single-game output in program history.

3. Texas A&M hasn’t beaten an SEC team in 16 years.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 28 – The Aggies’ potent offense combined with Arkansas’ lack of balance tilts a high-scoring match-up in favor of Texas A&M.