The 2019 Texas Bowl jogs memories from a time in the not-so-distant past. Ah how we all miss the old Big 12, when the conference actually had twelve teams and they were all in the central time zone (well, except Colorado). The 2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl will give us an old Big 12 rematch between two Big 12 South Division foes. The 7-5 Texas A&M Aggies from the SEC take on the 8-4 #25 Oklahoma State Cowboys from the Big 12 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
How they got here: Oklahoma State
After a disappointing 2018 season, the Cowboys were looking to improve on a 7-6 season. This season’s team was very young, with a redshirt freshman at quarterback, and only four seniors starting on offense and defense. After going 3-0 in non-conference play, they lost a close game to #12 Texas on a Saturday night in Austin, 36-30. They came back home and beat a ranked Kansas State, and suddenly became a dark horse contender for the Big 12. But, back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Baylor quickly shut down those dreams. Following the bye week, OSU rattled off 4 straight wins over #23 Iowa State, TCU, Kansas, and West Virginia. They had a chance to upend their bitter rival’s season at home to end the year, but were shut down by #7 Oklahoma 34-16. The Cowboys finished the season 8-4, with five wins in Big 12 play. They clinched their 14th consecutive bowl game, and could win their 4th straight bowl game against A&M.
How they got here: Texas A&M
After a solid first season for head coach Jimbo Fisher, expectations were high in College Station. They even opened the season ranked #12. But a tough road loss to Clemson squandered those dreams quickly. They would go 2-2 over their next four games, with both losses at home against Auburn and Alabama. They went on a four game winning streak going into back-to-back games against top-five opponents, and were hoping to spring an upset, but a hard fought loss on the road to Georgia would hurt those hopes. Then, they went into Baton Rouge and got absolutely destroyed to end the year. The Aggies are hoping to finish the season on a high note, and avoid a dreaded 7-6 season in the second year of Jimbo Fisher.
Player to watch: OKST
I don’t think there’s anyone else I can put as the player to watch for OSU. While cornerback AJ Green will enter the draft as a potential mid-round pick, the player to watch for both teams is Chuba Hubbard. He’s playing in the bowl game, and needs 64 yards to eclipse 2000 yards rushing on the season. He ranks 2nd all-time at Oklahoma State in rushing yards in a season and needs one touchdown to move into 4th in rushing TD’s in a season and 9th in career rushing TD’s. It’s still up in the air if he will enter the NFL Draft, but many Cowboy fans believe that this could be the final game in the illustrious career of the Canadian Cowboy at OSU. It’ll be extremely fun to watch him face that SEC defense to potentially end his career on a high note.
Player to watch: TAMU
I don’t want it to seem like a cop out, but I have to make Mond the Aggie to watch. While I could choose Isaiah Spiller, who needs 131 yards to break 1000 yards, Mond has to be the choice. If Kellen is performing well, A&M is playing well. The offense runs through their quarterback and he has to play well in a pivotal recruiting hotbed in Houston. 198 yards passing and Mond gets 3000 yards on the season, so that adds extra incentive.
Gambling Picks (TAMU -6.5, O/U 53.5)
Texas A&M being a touchdown favorite feels like a lot of SEC bias to me. I think the over/under is too low, so I’d go for the over here. But not only do I have confidence in Oklahoma State covering, I believe they will win outright. In the dome of NRG Stadium, weather can’t factor into the game. I think there will be incentive on both sidelines, with A&M wanting to justify their move to the SEC and OSU wanting to hammer an old Big 12 turned SEC foe for the second year in a row. My prediction is that the Cowboys will win the 2019 Texas Bowl by a score of 35-31. No matter what though, all we pray for is good football. Play ball.
You can view our 2019 Bowl Previews here.