SMU Mustangs vs Texas A&M Aggies: 2011 College Football Picks

The SMU Mustangs and No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies face off for the first time since the 2005 season Sunday night inside Kyle Field in College Station, TX. Kickoff is expected at 7:30 EST and will be nationally televised on Fox Sports Net.

It's a matchup that features a member of Conference USA traveling to take on a Big 12 opponent, but all of that could change over the course of the 2011 campaign. 

SMU has already expressed interest in joining the Big 12, while Texas A&M was politicking a move to the SEC, but has now turned its focus to the Pac-12.

There will be a game tonight and it pits two former Southwestern Conference rivals against each other—with the Aggies coming in with a 41-29-7 series edge.

The lines-maker feels that the Mustangs have a chance to be competitive in this contest, as they come in as 16.5-point road underdogs.  Over the last eight meetings, SMU has averaged out to a 31.5-point underdog.

Bettors will find that Mustangs head coach June Jones has covered five of six opportunities as a road underdog of 10.5 to 21 points.

Texas A&M is relevant again in the national landscape and returns 18 of 22 starters, including 10 of 11 possible on the offensive side of the ball. 

Much of the broadcast will be focused on the talented Aggies' trio of Jeff Fuller, Cyrus Gray and Ryan Tannehill. Few teams across the nation possess a returning 1,000-yard receiver, rusher and passer.

No letdown is expected for heavy home favorites due to having three weeks to prepare for a Big 12 home opener against the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys—a team that scored a 61-34 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in Stillwater.

Recommendation: SMU Mustangs (+16)