TEXAS BOWL
Texas A&M vs. No. 25 Oklahoma State
When: Friday, Dec. 27 at 5:45 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston
Records: Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4 SEC); Oklahoma State (8-4, 5-4 Big 12)
Last Meeting: Oklahoma State defeated Texas A&M 30-29 on Sept. 24, 2011 at Kyle Field in College Station
TV: ESPN
Betting Line: Texas A&M is a 7.0-point favorite
Texas A&M player to watch: LB Buddy Johnson
All year long, Johnson has proved to be one of A&M’s most dependable defenders. The Aggies will need him big time against the Cowboys to slow down Chuba Hubbard, especially with standout defensive tackle Justin Madubuike not playing in the bowl game after announcing his decision to turn pro.
If Johnson can continue to be a force in the backfield, even with Justin Madubuike gone, the Aggies will be in good shape.
Oklahoma State player to watch: RB Chuba Hubbard
A&M will be facing the nation’s leading rusher and Doak Walker Award winner, giving Mike Elko’s unit quite a challenge. Not having defensive tackle Madubuike clogging up the middle makes life more difficult for the Aggies.
Hubbard is powerful and explosive serving as the centerpiece to the Cowboys offense. Hubbard has also emerged as a passing target in recent games.
Texas A&M’s 3 keys to victory
1. Hinder Hubbard: A&M faced the Heisman Trophy winner, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, in its last game, and now the Aggies are tasked with slowing down the Doak Walker Award winner, Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard. The redshirt sophomore leads the nation in rushing, using his strong frame to break tackles and extend carries. A&M’s front seven will need to be at its best to contain Hubbard.
2. Find a groove again: A&M was on a roll heading to Georgia on a four-game winning streak, but the Aggies were beat down in consecutive losses to the Bulldogs and LSU. Getting their mojo back is important for the Aggies. A&M looked dominant at times during its winning streak and the Aggies need that mentality back.
3. Play Inspired: The Aggies came out lethargic in 2016 when they played in the Texas Bowl and lost a tight, 33-28, game to Kansas State, a team the Aggies should’ve beat. Last year, A&M went and dominated NC State in the Gator Bowl, 55-13, giving the Aggies a major boost into the offseason. With many key pieces returning next season, A&M could use momentum heading into 2020, a season some are seeing as a potential breakthrough year for the Aggies.
Oklahoma State’s 3 keys to victory
1. Feed Hubbard: This is a no-brainer, but giving the ball to your best player normal ends well. Hubbard is likely to receive 20-plus carries and he’s rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game this season. With Spencer Sanders (thumb) potentially not fully healthy, leaning on Hubbard would alleviate some pressure on the Cowboy quarterback.
2. Put on the pressure: The Aggies haven’t always protected quarterback Kellen Mond well this season, which should be a point of attack for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State boasts All-Big 12 linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez and Amen Ogbongbemiga, the team’s top two tacklers, respectively. Ogbongbemiga has been a force in the backfield this season, tallying 4.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. Finding a way to get penetration and get to Mond will give the Cowboys defense success.
3. Finish Strong: The Cowboys had Playoff-bound Oklahoma on the ropes at home in their regular-season finale, but the Sooners put to rest any chances of an upset with a strong second half to end Oklahoma State’s four-game winning streak. A win over the Aggies, however, would give the Pokes their ninth of the season and their fourth-straight bowl win.
Why Texas A&M should win
The Aggies went winless this season against ranked opponents, but they came close to knocking off top-tier teams Auburn and Georgia.
A&M players seemed tired of losing the big games at the end of the season, meaning the Aggies will likely come into the Texas Bowl eager to get a big win to close 2019. A&M is also playing less than 90 miles from campus, which should result in lots of maroon and white in the stands.
Why Oklahoma State could pull an upset
By ranking, Oklahoma State is the better team. Stopping the nation’s top running back is a tall task for any team, and with quarterback Spencer Sanders’ status still in question, the Cowboys could depend heavily on Chuba Hubbard.
Furthermore, A&M has yet to beat a ranked team this season, nor one that has a winning record.
