Missouri @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 16, 2010 ) Missouri 30, Texas A&M 9

THE STORY: Since blowing a pair of three-possession leads in consecutive losses to Oklahoma State and Arkansas, No. 16 Texas A&M has rebounded to win three straight. The Aggies are 3-1 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2007, when they finished 7-6 and made an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. Missouri, meanwhile, continues to struggle. The Tigers haven’t strung together back-to-back wins all season and are 0-3 on the road. But they defeated Texas A&M 30-9 last year in College Station and have won two of three in the series overall.

TV: FX. Line: Texas A&M -11

ABOUT MISSOURI (3-4, 1-3 Big 12): Missouri trailed 24-17 at halftime against unbeaten Oklahoma State last week, but the third-ranked Cowboys pulled away in the second half en route to a 45-24 victory. The loss snapped a 10-game home win streak for the Tigers, who are off to their worst conference start since 2009, when they began 1-4 before closing with three straight Big 12 victories. RB Henry Josey continues to be the bright spot offensively for Missouri, as he leads the conference with 122 yards per game. All four of the Tigers’ losses have come against ranked opponents.

ABOUT NO. 16 TEXAS A&M (5-2, 3-1 Big 12): Last week’s 33-17 victory over Iowa State was Texas A&M’s ninth in 10 games against Big 12 opponents, its most successful run since the league’s inception in 1996. Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray pace the Aggies offensively; each rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game for the third time this season. Texas A&M averages 40.4 points, which ranks 13th nationally. The Aggies have scored 30 or more points in six of seven games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Texas A&M is 5-2 all-time against Missouri at Kyle Field, though the Tigers have won two straight.

2. With a win, the Aggies would become bowl eligible for the third straight season under head coach Mike Sherman.

3. This will be the first of a four-game stretch against Texas opponents for Missouri, which will play Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech in November.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 41, Missouri 21 – The Tigers haven’t been able to keep up with the Big 12’s best offenses this year, and that won’t change against the Aggies’ seventh-ranked attack.