Texas Bowl – Oklahoma State vs Texas A&M Free Picks
Texas A&M is Favored Against Oklahoma State in a Rematch of the 2019 Texas Bowl
Plenty of Comings and Goings in the Texas A&M Program Going In The Texas Bowl
Both Texas A&M and Oklahoma State had their sets sights on a higher profile bowl than the Texas Bowl. Oklahoma State opened as a 4.5-point underdog. The line currently is at 2 for the 2023 Texas Bowl.
Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher as the Aggies finished fourth in the SEC West Division, went winless on the road and was 0-4 against ranked teams. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino took the same job at Arkansas.
Duke head coach Mike Elko was hired to lead the Aggies but he will not coach in the bowl that. Elijah Robinson, hired as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator, will continue to be the interim head coach.
Oklahoma State reached the Big 12 title game only to lose 49-21 to Texas.
These NCAAF teams haven’t met since Texas A&M edged Oklahoma State 24-21 in the 2019 Texas Bowl although the Cowboys covered as 4.5-point underdogs. The game fell under the 55-point total.
It might be hard to recognize the Texas A&M team that plays in the bowl game with quarterback Max Johnson having already committed to North Carolina. Offensive tackle Chase Bisontis, defensive lineman Walter Nolen, edge rusher Fadil Diggs, and defensive backs Deuce Harmon and Tyreek Chappell.
Receivers Ainais Smith and Evan Stewart, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson and offensive lineman Layden Robinson have opted out.
Receiver Jaden Bray is the most noteworthy of the Oklahoma State players in the transfer portal.
Oklahoma State was 20th in the College Football Playoff rankings, 21st in the American Football Coaches Association poll and 22nd in the Associated Press poll.
Texas Bowl
Aggies vs Cowboys 
Day/Time:
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
Departures Could Slow Down The Aggies
With Conner Weigman out for the year and Johnson headed to play for former Texas head coach Mack Brown at North Carolina, Jaylen Henderson is set to be the Aggies’ quarterback. He completed 67.5% of his passes for 704 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in the last three games. Henderson has also run for 104 yards and two more NCAAF scores.
Just who will he be throwing to?
There are also concerns about the right side of the offensive line for the Aggies and that could play a role in the 2023 Texas Bowl.
The defense could be tested without its leading tackler in Cooper and defensive tackle Nolen, the top-rated player currently in the transfer portal.
Cowboys Look To Finish Season In Style
The meltdown in the Big 12 title game has left a sour taste in the mouths of the Oklahoma State players.
Ollie Gordon is the top rusher in the country. However, the play of quarterback Alan Bowman could be even more important when it comes to the 2023 Texas Bowl.
Bowman has five touchdowns and seven interceptions in the five losses for Oklahoma State compared to eight TD passes and five interceptions in the nine wins.
Leading tackler Nickolas Martin is one of the Texas natives expected to play a key role for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State had three 10-win seasons before Mike Gundy was hired as the Cowboys’ head coach. A win in the Texas Bowl would mark the eighth 10-win season under Gundy.
Can The Aggies Turn Up The Pressure?
Texas A&M is fourth nationally with 3.5 sacks per game and the Aggies will look to put the pressure on Bowman.
The Aggies had 66 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in the seven wins this season. In the five losses, there were 30 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
The pass rush struggled at times against ranked opponents so it remains to be seen how much pressure the Aggies put on Oklahoma State. The Cowboys surrendered just 13 sacks in 13 games after giving up 27 sacks during the 2022 CFB season.
Oklahoma State is 4-2 outright when listed as the underdog with Texas A&M 7-1 as the favorite.
The Cowboys covered against the college football betting lines in four of the six games as the underdog with Texas A&M 5-3 against the spread when listed as the favorite.
The college football odds total has gone over in seven games played this season by both Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. There has been an average of 66 combined points scored in Oklahoma State’s last seven NCAAF games.
In the last four games for Texas A&M, the Aggies have averaged 38.5 points per game and give up 25.
Despite all the player movement, there has been little movement in the total with the total currently at 53.5 according to the NCAAF live odds. Go with this game finishing over that number.
Texas A&M hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2020 but the Aggies have won their last three bowl contests. Oklahoma State is 5-2 in its last seven college football bowl games with the previous four being decided by seven points or less.
If Texas A&M had its full roster, it would be tempting to go with the favored Aggies to win the game. Instead, roll with the Cowboys to not only win outright but to cover as the two-point underdogs.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
