The Texas A&M Aggies finished the 2009 College Football Picks season with a 6-7 record and finished fifth in the Big 12 South division, going 6-6-1 against the spread, topping the total odds of soccer 8 times and less than 5. times. The Aggies also went 3-7 in their last 10 with an Independence Bowl loss to Georgia 44-20. Texas A&M is a college football program that should be better than it has been in the last decade, the last time they won the Big 12 conference was in 1998 and the school has been trying to get back into shape. This sports handicapper thinks Texas A&M should only play second fiddle to the University of Texas in this football-rich state. The Aggies averaged 465.8 total yards per game in 2009 and ranked 5th in the entire NCAA, passing offense led the way with 281.6 yards per game, Texas A&M rushed for 184.2 yards per game, 30th in football College American and averaged 32.8 points per game, 19th nationally. The offense was led by quarterback Jerrod Johnson’s 3,579 yards and Christine Michael had 10 touchdowns that also led the team. Defense was a different story, they ranked 103rd overall with 426.3 yards per game, ranked 106th in the air with 254.7 yards per game, 90th nationally with 171.6 yards per game rushing and the unit allowed 33.5 points per game.
The Aggies returned all of their skillful players and that included a quarterback who threw for more than 3,500 yards, two running backs who gained more than 750 rushing yards apiece and three receivers with at least 40 receptions. That’s impressive and the unit should be even better in 2010. The offensive line is back with both guards from last season, Evan Eike and Patrick Lewis are solid and transfer Matt Allen should be the starter at center, but both offensive tackles could being rookies and that could pose some problems, overall this unit should go back to being one of the best in the big 12 if not the whole country.
Texas A&M scored 31 points three times last season and still lost. The new defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter, arrived from the air force and promises to improve things in College Station. Hoping to get more speed on the football field, the Aggies will switch to a 3-4 lineup that the old wrecking crew used to play. Linebacker Von Miller had 17 quarterback sacks in 2009 and that led to the nation’s comeback, but the unit was still among the worst in college football in passing defense. The Texas A&M secondary will be led by strong safety Trent Hunter and cornerback Coryell Judie. Outside of Miller, the unit doesn’t have many playmakers and that needs to change. Texas A&M will finish behind Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 South division with an overall record of 6-6.
