By ROBERT CESSNA

robert.cessna@theeagle.com

The Texas A&M football team has a chance to end a frustrating home season with a signature victory, but oddsmakers don't think the Aggies will even stay close to Oklahoma, much less win.

Sixth-ranked Oklahoma is favored by 27 1/2 points, which is believed to be the most for an opponent at Kyle Field. The Sooners have been rolling through the Big 12, other than a 45-35 loss to Texas. OU (8-1, 4-1 Big 12) hasn't trailed in its four league victories and has stepped up the last two weeks. The Sooners had a 55-28 halftime lead against Kansas State, cruising to a 58-35 victory. Last week, OU bolted to a 49-14 halftime lead over Nebraska en route to a 62-28 romp.

KSU, the only common foe the two teams have played, beat A&M 44-30 at Kyle Field.

"We have a chance this week to play a very, very good opponent that is a top five team and one of the best ones I've seen on tape this year," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "This would be a very special moment if we could beat this team. Certainly, it's a formidable task, but these things do happen."

That was the case last year when the Aggies played a spectacular game in their home finale, beating 11th-ranked Texas 38-30. But there's been little this year to cheer about at Kyle Field as the Aggies are in danger of losing their fifth home game, which has never happened.

The frustration started with an 18-14 season-opening loss to Arkansas State. It's been an uphill climb the rest of the way as the Aggies have never had a winning record. The last time A&M didn't have a winning record at some point in the season was 1969.

It's not all been gloom. A&M (4-5, 2-3) has played well in the last three games, starting with a 23-20 halftime lead over Texas Tech, which rallied for a 43-25 victory. The Aggies then defeated Iowa State and Colorado.

Sherman said before the Tech game that he sensed something special would happen for this team before the season ended. A victory over OU would qualify.

A&M does have a history of playing well when OU comes to town. The last four meetings at Kyle Field have been decided by a combined 16 points.

The Sooners always have come in with plenty riding on the game. OU was ranked No. 1 in 2000 and 2002 and No. 2 in 2004. Even in 2006 when the Sooners were ranked only 18th, they were headed to their fourth of five league championships.

The Sooners this decade have won three memorable games at Kyle Field. Last time, it took a fourth-down run from their own 29 to seal a 17-16 victory.

"Who hasn't had some tough times down there?" said OU head coach Bob Stoops, who is 8-1 against the Aggies. "I think it's usually a wild atmosphere. You have to play well, and they've had some good teams, too."

Ironically, it was an unranked A&M squad that beat Stoops. The 30-26 victory by the 2002 team was the program's first against a top-ranked team. And it's also the only time Oklahoma has lost as a top-ranked team to an unranked team.

A&M's glory was short-lived. The following week, the Aggies lost to Missouri in double overtime, giving it a 3-4 record at home, the program's worst since 1983.

Head coach R.C. Slocum was fired after a season-ending loss to Texas. The Aggies have never finished higher than third in the Big 12 South since. They also haven't beaten Stoops and the Sooners since 2002.

A&M knows it will have to play much better than it has at any point this season to upset the Sooners. The Aggies have yet to play well for an entire game or play well in all three phases.

"I would like to think [we can]," Sherman said of playing a full four quarters. "And this would be the week you'd need to do it. [OU] can certainly play all four quarters."

Stoops doesn't think his players will be overlooking A&M with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State still to play.

"I don't see that as an issue at all," he said. "We've got great respect -- always have for Texas A&M and going there to play. Our guys understand that. I don't see that at all."

What Stoops sees is the need for OU to play at its peak every week. The Sooners won by 34 points last week, yet dropped two spots to sixth in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.

"It's the style points of when you're playing, who you're playing and where you're playing," Stoops said. "All of that matters. Some people take that into consideration."

The Aggies are taking past meetings at Kyle Field into consideration when looking forward to the matchup. The oddsmakers like the Sooners who have scored at least 35 points in every game, rolling up more than 500 yards of offense six times.

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4 comment(s) found!

Posted by: ARB60 On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: Miller58
Dude, you are so freaking annoying. I'm all for questioning leadership and demanding the best... but constantly negative "fans" like you serve no purpose. Your constant dribble about "4 and 5 star differnce makers" is worn out and tired. This staff and this team is what we have and will have for the immediate future so get on board or go away. If there is zero improvement in 2 or 3 years, come on back and you can rehash your oral diahrea then. Unless you are the dumbest fan alive, you know we aren't getting rid of Sherman for a few years so give it a rest already. If you are in fact the dumbest fan alive, please go take a nap on a busy highway.
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Posted by: Pappy On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: JackAss Miller 58
Please change your name to JackAss 58 for all of us who waste our time reading your blog
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Posted by: drlgsideways On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: Dropped Passes
Looking at the numbers those fish are on record setting paces for catches, yards, and TDs. You can make a highlight reel of the plays those fish are making. This week's Aggie segment on Big12 Replay was pretty much just great catches by those fish that you constantly gripe about. You continue to make a fool of yourself. Did you happen to see the tu/tech game and the number of drops by the teasips best receivers? Did it register? Do you watch high school, college or NFL and not see good players drop the ball? It happens. Part of the game. The game you know nothing about.
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Posted by: miller58 On: 11/8/2008

Comment Title: Ag Coaches Scrimage Plan for Saturday November 8 - ou!
My personal opinions: Remember the time will go faster in a blowout if you count the number of dropped third down passes, right from the start, that go through the hands of our fish receivers!
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