Texas (6-4) @ Texas A&M (6-5)

• Game time:  7:00 (Thursday night)
• TV: ESPN
• Sirius Channel: 215 (TX) 91 (A&M)
• The Spread: Texas A&M -8

The Lowdown: Most of the talk this week, heck, this season for that matter, has centered on this being the last time Texas A&M and Texas will meet for the foreseeable future. It's just one of the many negative side effects of the realignment saga we’ve all had to sit through the past 24 months.  While it won't have any effect in what happens on the field, it'll no doubt be in the back of everyone’s mind as this game plays out Thanksgiving night.

As for the actual game, Texas comes in looking for some offense.  After putting 52 points on Texas Tech, the Longhorns have scored just 18 combined points in losing games to Missouri and Kansas State.  Freshman David Ash has struggled to keep the chains moving consistently and has been replaced for a time by Case McCoy in each of the last two games. All indications are that McCoy will start under center in College Station although it wouldn’t be surprising to see both quarterbacks play during the game.

Both of Texas’ injured freshman running backs, Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron , returned to the lineup last week, but without the serious threat of a passing game (and two Ash interceptions), Texas managed to put up only five points in the loss to the Wildcats. This is going to pose a bit of a problem against the Aggies.

The weakness in the A&M's defense has been in the secondary as they’ve given up more passing yards than anyone in the Big 12.  The question is can Texas take advantage?  Not with the way their quarterback’s have been playing of late, but I’d still be surprised if Bryan Harsin doesn’t call more than a few shots down the field to try and hit on some big plays with the worst case being he helps loosen the A&M’s run defense.

Texas has a solid ground game but the Aggies been very stout against the run giving up just 107.8 points on the ground.

Texas A&M is coming in fresh off a 61-7 pounding of Kansas.  They had already lost running back Christine Michael for the year and now Cyrus Gray is questionable with a stress fracture in his shoulder.  Gray is third in the conference in rushing averaging 95 yards per game, a number that would no doubt be higher had he and Michael not been splitting carries all season.  If Gray can’t go, A&M figures to turn to Ben Malena and Will Randolph who have a combined 29 carries on the season.

Texas A&M, Key to the Game:

Whether or not Gray plays, it’s going to be tough running the ball on the Longhorns front seven.   They held a very good K-State rushing attack to 38 yards last week and have gotten better and better as the season has progressed.

If the Aggies hope to put up points this week, they’ll need to do it through the air.  Jeff Fuller has had a solid, although unspectacular, season to this point and there would be no better time for a huge breakout game than his final game at Kyle Field.  Fuller hasn’t had a double digit catch performance yet this season and if he can do against the Longhorns, here’s guessing the Ags get the victory.  Either way, Fuller needs to be a huge part of the game plan Thursday night.

Texas, Key to the Game:

As was touched on in the opening, Texas needs to find a way to score points.  The defense can only do so much and against a good offense like Texas A&M, it’s not realistic to expect them to hold them scoreless all night.

Everyone knows how creative Harsin can be calling plays and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him pull more than a few tricks out of the bag.  Texas still has a chance at an eight win regular season and they really have nothing to lose – not to mention they surely don’t want to lose the last game these two teams will play for a while.

What are those tricks going to be?  You’re guess is as good as mine but he should go ahead empty the rabbit’s hat; reverses, throwbacks, statue of liberty’s, and probably some Wildhorn to go along with it.  The status quo hasn’t been working the past several weeks so you might as well lay it all out on the table.

Final Prediction: A lot of signs point to Texas A&M on Thursday.  A great run defense, a much better offense, and they’re on their home field.  It’s not going to matter, however.  The Longhorns front seven will do enough to keep Ryan Tannehill out of rhythm and the Horn’s offense will find a way to get into the end zone three times on top of a defensive touchdown.  A gut feeling says Texas wins.  Longhorns 28 Aggies 24.