Texas Bowl Picks & Odds: Oklahoma State 3-2 ATS as Underdog, Getting 7 Points vs Texas A&M

• Texas A&M and Oklahoma State were rivals in the Big 12
• Two teams last met in 2011, with the Cowboys winning their fourth in a row in the series
• Texas A&M leads the all-time series 17-9

The Texas A&M Aggies (7-5, 4-4 SEC) face the #25 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) in the 2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl on Sunday, December 27. This is the 27th all-time meeting between the former Big 12 rivals.

The two last played in 2011 with the Cowboys winning as Brandon Weeden threw for a school record 438 yards. The Aggies have opened as 7-point favorites in the Oklahoma State vs Texas A&M odds.

Oklahoma State vs Texas A&M Odds

Odds Taken December 19th

Aggies Faced Brutal Schedule

In Jimbo Fisher’s second season in College Station, the Aggies finished a disappointing fourth in the SEC West with a 4-4 mark in conference play. It should be noted that A&M played three teams who were ranked #1 at the time of the game against LSU, Alabama and Clemson, which all went down as losses. They also faced top fifteen outfits in Georgia and Auburn, which were losses for Fisher’s squad as well, to round out one of them most difficult schedules in college football.

The Aggies are led by junior quarterback Kellen Mond, who completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,802 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions this fall. Mond had a solid season, but had a terrible outing against LSU to end the regular season. He throws to a talented group of wide receivers led by Jhamon Ausbon and Quartney Davis.

WOW.
This ball belonged to Quartney Davis. pic.twitter.com/UL4l7CTUWO

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 12, 2019

Chuba Hubbard Leads Banged Up Cowboys

The Cowboys finished the Big 12 season with a 5-4 mark in conference play, tied with four teams with the second best record in the conference. After beginning the season 3-0, Oklahoma State dropped three of its next four to fall to 4-3. However, the Cowboys rebounded to go on a four-game winning streak before dropping the season finale against Oklahoma.

The Cowboys enter this game without some key offensive pieces. Freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders looks like the next great OKST quarterback, but he injured his thumb and underwent surgery last month. He could play in the Texas Bowl per head coach Mike Gundy, although nothing is definitive.

The Cowboys will also be without star receiver Tylan Wallace, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in November. Star running back Chuba Hubbard, who led college football with 1,936 rushing yards, is expected to play.

Mike Gundy provided an update on Spencer Sanders injury & his availability for the Texas Bowl. #OKState pic.twitter.com/76i3ZmIxuV

— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) December 9, 2019

By the Numbers

The Aggies rank a modest No. 71 in total offense in 2019.  A&M is No. 74 in rushing offense and No. 71 in scoring offense, averaging 30 points per game.

Defensively, Texas A&M ranks No. 31 in total defense, allowing 340.8 yards per game. The Aggies are particularly strong against the run, ranking No. 29 in run defense as opponents average just 129 yards per game against them and they also rank No. 27 against the pass.

The Cowboys are sixteenth in total offense, averaging almost 464 yards per game. Their rushing attack is carrying its offense this season as they rank just No. 71 in passing but sixteenth in rushing as they average 236 yards per game.

https://twitter.com/BPSTATE_/status/1205254654407446529?s=20

What’s the Best Bet?

In eight games as the favorite they are 5-3 ATS, also, when favored by seven points or more this season, the Aggies are 3-2. As underdogs, Oklahoma State is 3-1 ATS.

The Aggies are battle-tested in the rugged SEC, with arguably the most difficult schedule in all of college football. Could this be a potential breakout game for Fisher and his Aggies against a banged up Cowboys squad?

I think so, and I’ll be laying the points with Jimbo Fisher.

The Pick: Texas A&M -7 (-110)