By: Sportsmemo's Andrew Lange
Texas A&M Season Over/Under Wins
Recommendation: Over 7 (-110) @ TheGreek

On paper, Texas A&M is poised for another year of improvement under third-year head coach Mike Sherman. In Sherman's first season, the Aggies returned 10 starters, averaged 25 ppg, allowed 37.4 ppg and went 4-8. In 2009, 16 starters returned, scoring jumped to 32.8 ppg, the defense improved slightly to 33.5 ppg and they ended up 6-7 after a loss to Georgia in the Independence Bowl. This year, 16 starters are back in College Station and any improvement on the defensive end should have them in the hunt for an eight-win regular season. Sherman brought in former Air Force defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter and they expect to move to a 3-4 defense. Even though the stop unit faltered a bunch in 2009 there were signs of improvement, most notably the jump from 16 sacks to 36 and a half yard less per rushing play allowed. Schedule wise, we should see the Aggies jump out to a 3-0 start against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, and Florida International. There are three winnable road games against Oklahoma State, Kansas and Baylor. Missouri and Texas Tech come to College Station and so do Big XII contenders Nebraska and Oklahoma. There is also a neutral site game against Arkansas.

Out of this lot of games, we’ll likely need A&M to go 5-4 for us to win our bet
at Oklahoma State
vs. Arkansas (in Arlington, Texas)
vs. Missouri
at Kansas
vs. Texas Tech
vs. Oklahoma
at Baylor
vs. Nebraska
at Texas

It looks daunting but assuming A&M improves, there are more than a few opportunities for big wins. With the exception of their season finale at Texas, the Aggies are projected to be competitively lined in every league game. They'll likely need a win out of the Arkansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma trio but having all three in the state of Texas should make for at least one upset victory. In order to succeed at college football futures you have to go on projection not just what the schedule reads in July. I think A&M is primed to improve which makes eight wins a reasonable goal.