Sam Houston State @ Texas A&M preview
Kyle Field
Tenth-ranked Texas A&M returns home after winning three straight Southeastern Conference games - including an upset of then-No. 1 and defending national champion Alabama - to host last year's FCS runner-up Sam Houston State on Saturday. Last week's 29-24 victory moved the Aggies to No. 8 in the BCS standings and freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel into the middle of the Heisman Trophy discussion. Sam Houston State, located less than an hour from College Station, has won seven straight since losses to Baylor (48-23) and Southland Conference foe Central Arkansas (24-20) early in the season.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: None
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON STATE (8-2): The Bearkats are ranked No. 3 in both FCS national polls and are waiting for an invitation to the 20-team playoff. The Bearkats beat Northwestern State 52-17 last week to clinch a share of their second straight conference title. Junior Tim Flanders, who has 22 career 100-yard games, leads a strong running attack with 1,087 yards and 16 touchdowns on 166 carries this season. Junior Brian Bell has thrown for 1,883 yards and 18 touchdowns and senior Trey Diller leads the team with 45 catches for 671 yards and three scores. The Sam Houston State defense allows 16.2 points and has forced 18 turnovers and 25 sacks.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (8-2): Manziel was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time and Freshman of the Week for the seventh time after tallying 345 total yards against Alabama. He needs 220 passing yards to become the fifth FBS player and first freshman to gain 1,000 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards in a season. Freshman receiver Mike Evans, who leads the team with 61 catches for 842 yards, has at least four catches in every game this year. Junior Damontre Moore continues to lead the Aggies' defense in tackles (74), tackles for loss (20) and sacks (12.5).
EXTRA POINTS
1. Manziel is the second freshman in FBS history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards in a single season (Brad Smith, Missouri, 2002).
2. Texas A&M is 10-0 against Sam Houston State, with nine of those meetings played between 1919-1941. The most recent game was a 59-6 decision in 1997.
3. Sam Houston State has outscored opponents 365-83 during its seven-game win streak.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 58, Sam Houston State 17