Valero Alamo Bowl Preview: Penn State vs. Texas A&M

School: Texas A&M University (A&M), Aggies
Conference: Big XII
Head Coach: Gary Darnell (interim coach), 0-0 overall
Last Game: Defeated No. 11 Texas, 38-30
Record Last Five Years (sans 2007): 31-29 overall; 0-2 in bowls; 12-6 non-conference

Key Players, Defense: LB Mark Dodge, CB Marquis Carpenter, LB Misi Tupe

Key Players, Offense: QB Stephen McGee, RB Jorvorskie Lane, TE Martellus Bennett

What to look for: D – The famed A&M “Wrecking Crew” defense showed up this season--sometimes. Any offense with a pulse moved the ball with ease against the Aggies, and even bad teams like Miami, Fla. And Fresno State put up 34 and 45 points, respectively. If A&M can’t throw a wrench into the PSU offense, this one could get ugly in a hurry. It will start with the outstanding linebackers Dodge and Tupe, who combined for 197 tackles this season. Both are good at getting to the ball, and can also get a hand up in coverage, with Dodge notching five pass breakups and Tupe picking off one for a big return. Big plays are an absolute necessity if A&M pulls off the win. Getting a few sacks or interceptions could give A&M a mental boost, if anything. Carpenter was excellent at finding the ball in the air, and had four picks to show for it. This could come down to whether or not the “Wrecking Crew” actually makes an appearance.

O – This offense isn’t designed to work itself out of a deficit. The running game is A&M’s bread and butter, with McGee, Lane and RB Mike Goodson all rushing for more than 715 yards. The problem for the Aggies is that their leading rusher is the quarterback. If McGee can’t get the defense spread out and off balance, he doesn’t have the arm to stand in the pocket and bomb away. For the north-south running game, the 270-pound Lane is easily the hardest to take down, maybe in the whole nation. He’s only lost nine total yards the entire season on 159 carries. When A&M does go to the air, not many options exist outside of Bennett. He’s been good, but hasn’t gotten many opportunities to show his skills in this offense with only 45 grabs--tops on the team. PSU’s had some difficulty with tall receivers, so Bennett’s 6’7” frame could become a huge asset for the Aggies’ red zone attack.

ST – A&M will hope this game doesn’t come down to a field goal. K Matt Szymanski has been unreliable at best, connecting on fewer than 60 percent of his field goal attempts. In a tight loss to Texas Tech, he missed two attempts from 41 and 34 out. A&M lost that game by one point. Other than the field goal unit, A&M’s special teams are nothing to cringe at, but don’t turn any heads either.

C – Turbulence is the name of the game since Dennis Franchione was fired, oddly enough after his second straight victory over archrival Texas. Interim coach Darnell will get his team as fired up as possible, but this is really a meaningless game from a coaching standpoint. The real work will begin this spring, but a bowl win would send the seniors out on a great note, and maybe pour some momentum into the off-season and incoming coach Mike Sherman.

Interesting Stat: A&M has been a fourth-quarter team in 2007, scoring 131 points. Unfortunately, so have their opponents, which have scored 91 fourth-quarter points of their own.

School: The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Nittany Lions
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 42nd Year, 371-125-3
Last Game: Lost to Michigan State, 35-31
Record Last Five Years (sans 2007): 36-25; 1-1 in bowls; 7-4 non-conference

Key Players, Defense: S Anthony Scirrotto, LB Sean Lee, DE Maurice Evans

Key Players, Offense: RB Rodney Kinlaw, WR Derrick Williams, QB Anthony Morelli

What to look for: D – The 2007 season was not a vintage performance by this PSU unit. Sure, there were two shutouts, but I’m sure PSU would have traded those for two wins. In the final two losses the defense gave up 37 to Ohio State and 35 to Michigan State, 28 surprisingly in the second half to the Spartans. Of course, those teams had good quarterbacks. McGee is not bad, but he’s not great, and PSU will key off of his inability to carry the Aggies on his back with his arm. Senior captain LB and Bednarik-winner Dan Connor is almost a given to have a great game, but sometimes in 2007, his defensive teammates couldn’t help him out. Stopping the A&M run game with the front four, led by tackles Phil Taylor and Olie Ogbu will be important to forcing A&M to pass. If PSU can force the pass, Evans and DE Josh Gaines can tee off and pound McGee in the pocket. If McGee and Bennett hook up, it will be up to the suspect secondary to put a quick end to it. Throws over the middle haven’t ended well for opponents, with playmaker Scrirrotto always up for a big play.

O – Can PSU keep up with A&M if the defense doesn’t hold up as well as expected? Morelli had arguably his best game against a good team in the 2007 Outback Bowl against No. 22 Tennessee. And outside of the last four throws of the Michigan State game, he had a great final stretch. But a lot of that had to do with the emergence of Williams as a go-to receiver, after moving to the slot. Morelli does well when asked to manage a game, not win it. Over the last few games, he made nice, easy throws to Williams and WRs Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. PSU does have the options in the running game, and if it gains a lead by halftime, watch for a healthy dose of Kinlaw and RB Evan Royster. In order for the PSU offense to be effective in this game, it can’t have the mental breakdowns and turnovers that plagued it in key situations in key losses this season.

ST – PSU gave up two touchdown kick returns in 2007. One of them was overcome in the win over Purdue, but the other foreshadowed the implosion against Illinois earlier in the season. A&M isn’t known for its return game, so there shouldn’t be any issues for PSU, considering the special teams have spent extra time on kick coverage. K Kevin Kelly has been very good all year, and hasn’t cost PSU games the way he might have last season. P Jeremy Boone could mean the difference in field position, and thus winning and losing the Alamo Bowl. But above all, PSU doesn’t want to lose the return game, and getting a few good returns from Williams and KR AJ Wallace is a must.

C – This is the complete opposite of A&M. Paterno has been on the same sideline since 1950. The key to another bowl win is allowing the players to do what they do well. That was evident in the loss to Michigan State, as the run game was blasting away, but the staff decided to throw the last four downs with plenty of time. If one aspect of PSU’s offense is clicking, Paterno and his staff have to go with it.

Interesting Stat: PSU has outscored opponents in the second quarter 114-21.

GAME PREDICTION:

PSU 31, A&M 14

VEGAS:

PSU (-6) A&M

ACTUAL SCORE:

PSU 24, A&M 17