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Oklahoma State at Texas A&M Football Spreads

Written October 10, 2009 by Jack Jones

The big story line heading into the Big 12 opener for No. 15 Oklahoma State and Texas A&M is the sudden ineligibility of Cowboys All-America wide receiver Dez Bryant, and that factor certainly ups the Aggies’ chance of an upset – this game is currently off college football spreads board, but Texas A&M will be about a 5-point dog. If you want to get in on the action, take a look at the 10% UNLIMITED signup bonus offered to our readers by Bodog.

Bryant, who is the top-ranked receiver prospect for next year’s NFL draft, was ruled ineligible this week for lying to the NCAA about hanging around with former college and NFL star Deion Sanders. Both Bryant and Sanders say there was nothing inappropriate about Bryant’s offseason workouts with Sanders or his visit to Deion’s home in Dallas. Sanders said Bryant “panicked” when asked by the NCAA whether the visits were true. The interesting thing is that the NCAA was investigating this before the season started, so it’s not impossible that OSU would have to forfeit its three wins so far. Bryant and the school immediately appealed the NCAA’s decision, but that process could take weeks.

The junior had 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns in Oklahoma State’s first three games before sitting out the Cowboy’s last game with a hamstring injury. Bryant’s totals are twice as much as any two other OSU receivers on the roster. In fact, Saturday’s projected starters at wideout – Josh Cooper, Justin Blackmon and DeMarcus Conner – total 18 combined career catches. In last year’s win 56-28 win over Texas A&M, Bryant had 106 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

So Bryant’s absence obviously will have a big effect on QB Zac Robinson and the passing game. Robinson is currently second in the Big 12 in pass efficiency, but expect that number to drop steadily. And the news gets worse for OSU. Star running back Kendall Hunter, the Big 12’s leading rusher a year ago, is very questionable for Saturday’s game after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. Before the season, the Cowboys had arguably the best QB/RB/WR trio in the game with Robinson/Hunter/Bryant and now may be down to one of the three to start Big 12 play.

Texas A&M has morphed into a fast-paced offensive team and is second in the country in total offense. That unit put up solid yardage but only 19 points in a loss to Arkansas last time out. Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson has thrown 186 consecutive passes without an interception and already has three 300-yard passing games this season, tying a school record.

When doing your football betting on this game, know that OSU leads the all-time series 17-7 but that that stat is misleading. The Cowboys are 3-10 against A&M since the formation of the Big 12 and 2-9 overall in College Station, with the last win coming in 2003. This also will be the Cowboys’ first road game of the year, so that could certainly be a factor.

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