Aggies to beat the Huskers

A very interesting matchup is set for Memorial Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Texas A&M Aggies in a Big 12 Conference contest that may say more about the coaches than the respective teams.

The Aggies (5-2, 2-1) meet the Huskers (4-3, 1-2) in a non-televised affair in Lincoln. Both teams have embattled coaches.

Bill Callahan is under fire from Nebraska fans that are disappointed in uninspired play the last several weeks on both sides of the ball.

Dennis Franchione is in trouble with the athletic administration at A&M after a secret Web site was discovered that Franchione was profiting from. Director of Athletics Bill Byrne has indicated Franchione will be evaluated at the end of the season and his behind-the-scenes activity will be taken into account.

Looking at the game, the Aggies are a problem matchup for the Huskers in a couple of key ways. A&M is a power running team with a very talented 1-2 combination at running back. When you add a solid running quarterback to the mix, the Nebraska defense may be in for a very tough afternoon.

Directing the Aggie offense is Stephen McGee (6-foot-3, 220 pounds, junior). McGee is a very accomplished runner but is less than average in the passing game. For the season McGee averages 77.7 yards rushing per game to lead the team. McGee completes 55.4 percent of his passes (97 of 175) with four touchdowns and four interceptions on the season.

The running backs for the Aggies are a “thunder and lightning” pair.

Jorvorskie Lane (6-0, 268, Jr.) wants to punish defenses with his power. Lane is almost impossible to stop in short yardage and goal-line situations. He averages 64 yards per game with 11 rushing touchdowns.

The speed back is Mike Goodson (6-0, 206, So.), who averages 62 yards on the ground and is the third leading receiver on the team with 14 catches. He has the quickness to get around the corner and make big plays.

Texas A&M is not a good throwing team. The main threat in the passing game is tight end Martellus Bennett (6-7, 255, Jr.). He has the physical skills to really punish the defense down the middle. Bennett will be a candidate for post season honors in the conference. He leads the team with 29 receptions on the year.

Defensively, the Huskers will want to try to force the Aggies to throw the football.

The best part of the Aggie offense is the line. Many national publications list this group as the best in the Big 12 and of the the elite groups in the nation.

From tackle to tackle, the Aggies average over 6-5 and nearly 310 pounds per man. Through seven games, A&M has only allowed five sacks. The group has four seniors that know what kind of battles take place in the trenches. Center Cody Wallace (6-4, 296, Sr.) could be an honors choice at the end of the season.

The Aggies run a 4-3 defensive scheme. Up front the big play man is defensive end Chris Harrington (6-5, 268, Sr.). Harrington has 32 total tackles and four tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The run defense only allows 135 yards per game and will pose a big challenge for the Husker offense.

The top player on defense is outside linebacker Mark Dodge (6-2, 220, Sr.), who is a four year U.S. Army veteran who was at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Dodge is the heart and soul of the defense. He had 17 tackles and an interception against Nebraska in last season's Husker win. Dodge leads the team with 66 tackles in 2007.

The secondary gives up 264 yards per game through the air. A small unit, no starter in the defensive backfield is over 6 feet tall. Defensive back Marquis Carpenter (6-0, 172, Sr.) leads the team with three interceptions. If Nebraska is to pull out a much-needed victory, the Huskers have to take advantage of their significant edge in the passing game.

On special teams, A&M has been only average so far this season. Kicker Matt Syzmanski (6-1, 194, So.) has converted only 10 of 18 (55.6 percent) of his field goals. Syzmanski is only 2 of 7 (28.6 percent) from beyond 40 yards. Junior Justin Brantly (6-4, 245, Jr.) averages 43.2 yards on 24 punts this season. Goodson has the speed and elusiveness to be a threat in the return game, but the Aggies have not been good in this part of the game in 2007.

Nebraska played the worst game of my lifetime last week. Many changes have taken place away from the field, but that doesn't always have an impact on game day.

The Aggies have a strong running game that will control the ball and make things difficult on Nebraska. Look for Texas A&M to win 34-21 Saturday.

Jim Dolezal is a local Husker football fanatic as well as a part-time sports writer for the Telegram. He will analyze the Huskers' opposition from a hometown perspective every Thursday throughout the season.