Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma Predictions & Analysis: 2013 Cotton Bowl 1/4

Last Updated: January 4th, 2013 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
Exclusive Sportsbook Bonus Offer For Bankroll Sports Visitors Only
Get 10% Cash Back @ Sports Betting Online
SBO is Offering 10% Cash Back on ALL Wagers WIN OR LOSE
(Exclusive Bonus Offer – Use This Link or Above Link & Promo Code AF1040)

The 2013 Cotton Bowl picks are going to be difficult to make, as the Texas A&M Aggies and Oklahoma Sooners are set to do battle with one another in a Big XII vs. SEC battle. Check out our Cotton Bowl predictions and the keys to the game for Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma.

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012-13 Bowl Game Schedule And Other Bowl Game Previews

2013 Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Oklahoma Sooners
2013 Cotton Bowl Location: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, TX
2013 Cotton Bowl Date/Time: Friday, January 4th, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
2013 Cotton Bowl Television Coverage: FOX

Key #1: Johnny Football has to play like a senior
This is a tremendously and painfully obvious statement to make in this game. QB Johnny Manziel was remarkable this year, and he had to be the Heisman Trophy winner as a result. You don’t just throw for 3,419 yards, rush for 1,181 yards, and account for 43 total touchdowns in the SEC West without winning the Heisman, especially when your team goes 10-2 and is the only team to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide this year. Remember too, that it isn’t just about what Manziel does with his arm or his legs that makes a difference. He also has to be a heady player that makes the right decisions with the ball. Head Coach Kevin Sumlin puts a lot of stock into his quarterback making plays at the line, making the right audible, making the right throw, and knowing when to keep it and when to hand it off on the option. Remember that RB Ben Malena, RB Christine Michael, and RB Trey Williams combined this year for 1,504 rushing yards and 23 TDs to add to what Manziel was able to do. But if Manziel doesn’t bring his best game to the table in this, his 13th game of his career, the Sooners are going to probably get the better of him.

Cotton Bowl Odds at Diamond Sportsbook
Texas A&M Aggies -3.5
Oklahoma Sooners +3.5
Over/Under 72
Click Here to Bet Your Cotton Bowl Picks!

Key #2: Oklahoma can’t let this game get up to a frantic pace
Oklahoma did win all of its shootouts this year, and the two games it lost were kept to a snail’s pace against the Kansas State Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but it can’t let this one get into a shootout. QB Landry Jones made too many mistakes with the football this year (10 picks) for him to have to ultimately put the ball in the air 60 or 70 times against the Aggies. Yes, Texas A&M’s defense didn’t have a single player log more than two picks for the entire season, but we just don’t trust that Jones can avoid making the big turnover to give A&M the huge advantage when push comes to shove. Remember that the Baylor Bears, West Virginia Mountaineers, and Oklahoma State Cowboys all pushed the Sooners down the stretch in big time Big XII games, and this is essentially just another game just like these, knowing that these two teams shared the Big XII together through last season.

Key #3: The Aggies have to man up in the red zone on defense
Texas A&M had a great red zone team this year, scoring on 85.5% of its trips inside the opposition’s 20 yard line. It became a heck of a lot easier to do just that with Manziel on the field. However, the Aggies are really going to have a problem in this one stopping the Sooners when they’re inside the 20. Oklahoma ranked 11th in the country, scoring on 89.1% of all of its red zone trips this year. A lot of that was thanks to the play of QB Blake Bell, who rushed for 11 TDs this year. Some of that was due to RB Damien Williams as well, and QB Landry Jones was generally lethal when he got inside the 20 and always has been over the course of his whole career. That’s why this is going to be such a tough draw for an A&M defense that hasn’t always been at its best. If this is the team that lined up toe-to-toe with Alabama and came up with the stop on the goal line that changed the course of the entire season across the whole country, the Aggies can win this game. If not though, this could be a long one for the men from College Station.

Premium Service Releases From The Bankroll Sports Handicappers
Sign Up For 10* Cotton Bowl Picks on 1/4
**Sign-Up Now – Only $19.95**
(Includes Instant Access to January 4th’s Entire Member Card)
Purchase Via Credit Card Purchase By Paypal
Sports Picks by Credit CardSports Picks by Paypal
Comments (Using Facebook)

Posted in College Football - Last Updated on Friday, January 4th, 2013 @ 7:37 am (EST)
Comment on This College Football Article (Using Your Facebook) Below

Comments (Must Use Facebook)