Aggies Deserve Measure Of Respect
No Husker bashing, no bold predictions.
No. 14 Texas A&M, unlike Texas last season, is taking a strictly low-key approach leading to Saturday’s Big 12 title game against No. 2 Nebraska at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“No one in the country thinks we can win and that’s fine with me,” Texas A&M tackle Chris Ruhman said. “We’ll try to go out and surprise some people. I just want to be able to walk away from that game and say I gave it my all.”
The Aggies (9-2), however, hope they can duplicate Texas’ success against the Huskers. Last season, Texas quarterback James Brown predicted his team would win by three touchdowns. The Longhorns, 20-point underdogs, won 37-27 and knocked the Huskers out of the national title picture.
Nebraska (11-0) finds itself in a similar situation, needing a victory to claim a berth in the Orange Bowl. Top-ranked Michigan (11-0), the only other undefeated team, plays No. 8 Washington State (10-1) in the Rose Bowl, and a loss by the Wolverines would open the title door for the Huskers.
The Huskers, favored by 17 points, hope a 27-24 escape against Colorado was a wakeup call going into a game coach Tom Osborne opposed when the Big 12 voted it in.
Texas A&M, led by quarterback Branndon Stewart, averages 37 points per game and ranks sixth in scoring defense at 13.9 points per game.
If Texas A&M wins, the Aggies probably will play in the Sugar Bowl.
No. 2 Nebraska (minus 17) vs. No. 14 Texas A&M (at San Antonio): Don’t scoff at A&M… . NEBRASKA 34-28.
No. 3 Tennessee (minus 6-1/2) vs. No. 11 Auburn (at Atlanta): Manning or not, when’s the last time Vols won a really big game? … AUBURN 34-31.
No. 20 Colorado State (minus 9-1/2) vs. New Mexico (at Las Vegas): Lobos just happy to go bowling… . CSU 35-21.
Others: Marshall (minus 10-1/2) 42, Toledo 21; (at Huntington, W.Va., Friday night); Army (plus 12-1/2) 24, Navy 23 (at East Rutherford, N.J., Saturday).
Last week: 4-5 (straight); 6-3 (spread). Season: 185-56 (straight); 124-109-1 (spread)