Bet Texas A&M Aggies – Defensive Shortcomings Still Too Much To Overcome In College Station

2009 Texas A&M Aggies Betting Recap

Online betting totals for Texas A&M games were through the roof last year as eight of their games went over, and you could always count on the Aggies for a shootout, but there was litte drama as only four of their games were decided by 10 points or less. After beating New Mexico, Utah State and UAB by an average of 26.6 points (only Utah State kept it close, losing 38-30), the Aggies were blasted 47-19 in a neutral-site game against Arkansas. Then A&M had a comeback fall short at home against Oklahoma State before a humiliating 62-14 loss at Kansas State. The Aggies responded by romping at Texas Tech and against Iowa State, and then it really went south for A&M, losing by one at Colorado before another massive rout, this time by 55 points at Oklahoma. A home loss to Texas and a 44-20 whipping at the hands of Georgia in the Independence Bowl put the Aggies out of their misery.

The offense tried their best, coming in fifth in the country via pivot Jerrod Johnson and a deep group of receivers that he spread the ball around to. The Aggies were also 19th in points scored with 32.8, and Johnson was one of three A&M players to run for at least 500 yards, while four receivers had at least 400 receiving yards. However, the defense was atrocious, coming in 105th in both points allowed and total defense, and they were especially bad against the pass, ranking 105th. Playing in the pass-happy Big 12 with a poor secondary is an easy way to find yourself below .500.

2010 Preview To Bet Texas A&M Aggies

It could be another high-scoring season if you’re an NCAA football betting player following the Aggies, as they have eight starters back on offense, including Johnson and five of his top seven receivers from 2009, while Christine (not a typo) Michael is trying to build on winning the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year award. However, there are a couple of questions up front that threatens to slow the Aggies down, because every offense needs time and protection. There are nine starters back on defense, and they shouldn’t be as bad as last year now that the likes of Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Zac Robinson, whose offenses laid an average of 505.3 yards and 50 points on the Aggies, are gone. The Aggies have a new coordinator in Tim DeRutyer, who came from Air Force, and he’s installing a new 3-4 scheme that they’ll have to learn quickly. DeRuyter has a great weapon in Von Miller, whose 17 sacks led the NCAA, but unless someone other than Trent Hunter has to step up in the secondary.

The non-conference schedule is easy enough with Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International, then the Aggies get right into it: a nationally-televised game at Oklahoma State, followed by another edition of the “Southwest Classic” against Arkansas, a rivalry that was renewed last year after 18 years. Like last year, this will be held in Cowboys Stadium and after the beating A&M took, they should be ready for revenge. The Aggies welcome Missouri to town before travelling to Kansas, and then there is a crucial back-to-back at home against Texas Tech and Oklahoma that could either put A&M in a good position to challenge in the Big 12 South, or knock them out. The Aggies end the season at Baylor, at home against Nebraska, and finally, the “Lone Star Showdown” at Texas. It’s the Big 12; there are barely any easy weeks for the Aggies.

Offense will never be a problem with Mike Sherman as your coach, and the Aggies should be fine in that area, even with the replacements up front. But will the defense be able to stand firm in 2010? You can’t give up 40 points or more in six games and expect to win your division, much less a division like the Big 12 South. The unit is going to have to grasp the 3-4 scheme quickly because the schedule is tough. The Aggies could be a sports betting darkhorse to leapfrog Texas and Oklahoma, but we don’t think the defense is going to improve that much, if at all.