Texas A&M Football: How Does Oklahoma State Match Up with the Aggies?

Texas A&M will take on Oklahoma State on Saturday at Kyle Field in a battle of top 10-ranked conference foes. The Aggies enter the contest at 2-0 coming off a 37-7 victory over Idaho. Oklahoma State is 3-0 with a lightning delayed 59-33 victory over Tulsa that finished after 3 AM on Sunday.

This will be the first ever matchup between A&M and OSU when both teams are ranked in the top 10.

The game will also feature a matchup of two of the top quarterbacks and wide receivers in the country. Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller are both potential postseason award candidates and potential early round NFL draft picks. OSU's Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon have both received Heisman consideration. Blackmon should be the first WR selected in the 2012 NFL draft.

Let's take a look at how these two top-10 teams match up. 

Aggie DC Tim Deruyter vs. OSU QB Brandon Weeden

Last year Tim Deruyter's 3-4 scheme confused and befuddled Brandon Weeden in the first half as the Aggies took a 21-7 lead in Stillwater. In the second half then OSU OC Dana Holgerson made adjustments and Weeden was able to pick apart the Ags secondary.

Holgerson is now the head coach at West Virgnia so it will be interesting to see how Weeden and new OC Todd Monken attack Deruyter's scheme.

The Aggies will be at home so the defense will feed off of the crowd.

After three games, Weeden is completing 72.5 percent of his passes for 384 yards per game. Weeden has thrown six interceptions on the year with his eight touchdowns.

Deruyter has had a year to figure out how best to attack Weeden. He should be able to pressure Weeden and possibly force turnovers. 

Advantage: Texas A&M

Texas A&M RBs vs. OSU LBs

Texas A&M features the best RB duo in the nation with Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael. Gray had his ninth straight 100-yard rushing game in the victory over Idaho. Michael was benched after fumbling the ball against Idaho in the first quarter. Michael is still averaging 58 yards rushing per game on 6.1 yards per carry. 

Sophomore LB Shaun Lewis is the Cowboys' best defensive player. Lewis has great speed and creates big plays for the OSU defense. Lewis is tied for the team lead with three tackles for loss on the season. The Aggies need to be aware of where Lewis is on the field, especially on passing downs.

It should be noted that OSU is undersized at LB with both Lewis and fellow starter Joe Thomas checking in at 5'11" and around 220 pounds. It will be interesting to see if they can stay away from Texas A&M's offensive linemen.

While Lewis is a gifted playmaker, the Cowboys have struggled against the run allowing 171 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry on the season.

Advantage: Texas A&M

A&M DBs vs. OSU WRs

Justin Blackmon is the best wide receiver in the country. He is the reigning Biltenikoff Award winner and has an impressive combination of size, speed and body control. You have to roll a safety over on him because he is strong enough to break tackles and make big plays.

Josh Cooper, Tracy Moore and Hubert Anyiam are nice complements to Blackmon. If you concentrate on Blackmon, Cooper will beat you all day making catches to move the chains and extend drives.

Anyiam is a nice deep threat averaging 16.4 yards per reception.

The Aggie secondary is a veteran unit featuring three senior starters. They will have their hands full this week with the best group of WRs they will face this season in the conference. The Ags will need big games from Coryell Judie, Dustin Harris and Terrance Frederick to contain this WR corps.

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Aggie OL vs. Cowboys DL

Texas A&M has one of the top offensive lines in the country. The Ags average 487 yards of offense per game. A&M is averaging 176 rushing yards per game at 4.6 yards per carry. Texas Aggie OL has not allowed a sack yet.

Oklahoma State is allowing 171 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. The OSU DL has six sacks on the season with Jamie Blatnick and Nigel Nicholas tying for the team lead with two each. 

The OSU DL is going to need to keep the A&M OGs from getting to the next level and pushing around the Cowboys undersized linebackers.

The A&M OL will need to control the game by opening holes for the Aggies talented running backs in order to move the chains and keep the OSU offense on the sideline.

Advantage: Texas A&M

OSU OL vs. Texas A&M DL

There is a reason that Joe Wickline is the highest paid OL coach in the country. He and Bob Bostad of Wisconsin are arguably the best offensive line coaches in the country. All Wickline has done since arriving in Stillwater is produce great offensive lines.

The matchup between the OSU OL and the A&M DL will likely decide the game. If the Cowboys OL can keep Brandon Weeden's jersey clean, then OSU will win this game.

The Aggie DL has allowed 2.2 yards per carry this year and has seven sacks on the year.

If the Aggie DL is able to get consistent pressure on Weeden and force some turnovers then A&M has a great chance in this game.

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Texas A&M Wide Receivers vs. Oklahoma State Defensive Backs

Texas A&M has the best wide receiver unit in the nation. Jeff Fuller and Ryan Swope are coming off of seasons in which they both had more than 70 receptions. Uzoma Nwachukwu has rebounded after his sophomore slump and nine receptions for 103 yards after two games.

The Oklahoma State secondary allows 242 yards passing per game. The Cowboys have intercepted five passes on the year so they do create turnovers.

This is a matchup that the Aggies simply have to win. The Aggie WRs should be able to get open against OSU.

Advantage: Texas A&M

Aggie QB Ryan Tannehill vs. OSU DC Bill Young

Aggie QB Ryan Tannehill is averaging 291 yards passing per game while completing over 72 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and one interception.

Bill Young is one of the better defensive coordinators in the college game. Young wants his defenses to play basic fundamental defense and try to create turnovers. Bill Young's defenses will give up yards but the tacklers will attack the ball and create a lot of fumbles and interceptions.

Last year Jerrod Johnson had five turnovers in a close loss for the Aggies. If A&M can avoid multiple turnovers against Bill Young's defense, then they have a great chance at winning this game.

Advantage: Texas A&M.

Oklahoma State Running Backs vs. Texas A&M Linebackers

OSU RB Joseph Randle has rushed for 378 yards on 6.1 yards per carry with seven touchdowns. As a team the Cowboys are averaging 191 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry. 

The Aggies are still looking for the right combination of LBs to make their 3-4 defense go. Sean Porter is a mainstay at the drop OLB spot and leads the Aggies through two games with 15 tackles and three tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks. Other than Porter, the Aggie LBs have been inconsistent. Senior ILB Garrick Williams has been invisible this season. Caleb Russell has not been much better after trying to replace Von Miller in the Joker OLB spot.

Expect sophomore Damontre Moore to start in the Joker position against OSU. Jonathan Stewart will likely replace Williams at ILB and start next to Charlie Thomas. The Aggie LBs need to play big in order to contain the Cowboys running game.

To date, they have not shown that kind of ability this season.

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Texas A&M Special Teams vs. Oklahoma State Special Teams

Texas A&M kicker Randy Bullock is 5-6 on field goals with a long of 46 yards.

Oklahoma State kicker Quinn Sharp is 6-7 on field goals with a long of 46 yards.

Both A&M and OSU have dangerous kick and punt returners in Coryell Judie and Justin Gilbert.

OSU has the more consistent punter in Quinn Sharp. The Aggies still have a competition going on at punter between Ryan Epperson and Drew Kaser.

The special teams are very strong on both sides in this game.

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Intangibles

Oklahoma State comes into the game as the higher ranked team. The Cowboys have beaten the Aggies three years in a row so you have a senior class coming into the game that does not know what it is like to lose to A&M.

The Aggies outplayed OSU last season in Stillwater but lost they committed too many turnovers.

The Aggies get OSU at Kyle Field and will be the best team that OSU has faced so far this season.

Prediction: Texas A&M wins 31-27