Alama Bowl: Penn State vs. Texas A&M

Teams: Texas A&M vs. Penn State
Date: Dec. 30, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Analysis
Penn State coach Joe Paterno will be making his record 34th bowl appearance as head coach of the Nittany Lions, and it will be the 500th game of his legendary career. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, interim Aggie coach Gary Darnell will be coaching his first and only game as A&M boss, as Mike Sherman has been hired to replace Dennis Franchione. That sideline disparity would seem to give an edge to the Nittany Lions, but don’t count out the Aggies.

A&M has a typically powerful rushing attack (13th nationally) led by quarterback Stephen McGee and bruising back Jorvorskie Lane. And when we last saw the Aggies, they unleashed a surprisingly potent passing game in a 38–30 win over Texas that sent Franchione out on a positive note.

But the Aggies will be sending McGee, Lane & Co. into the teeth of one of the nation’s best rush defenses. Penn State allowed only 88 yards per game rushing in the ground-oriented Big Ten.

The key to this one could be the performance of inconsistent Lion quarterback Anthony Morelli, who has one last chance to reward the Lions’ persistent faith in him. As Morelli goes, so goes the Penn State offense.

Breakdown: Texas A&M
Campus Location: College Station, Texas
Distance to San Antonio: 168 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 13–17
2007 Season: 7–5, 4–4 Big 12

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 13 (216)
Pass Offense: 98 (187)
Scoring Offense: 53 (29)
Rush Defense: 57 (152)
Pass Defense: 104 (264)
Scoring Defense: 55 (26)
Turnover Margin: 20 (0.67)

Additional Notes:
McGee threw for a career-high 362 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Texas, the Aggies’ second straight over their hated rivals … If there were such a stat as rushing efficiency, Lane would lead the pack. Over the last two seasons, Lane has only 1,471 yards, but he has scored 35 rushing touchdowns.

Breakdown: Penn State
Campus Location: State College, Pa.
Distance to San Antonio: 1,655 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 25–12–2
2007 Season: 8–4, 4–4 Big Ten

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 32 (187)
Pass Offense: 46 (219)
Scoring Offense: 44 (31)
Rush Defense: 6 (88)
Pass Defense: 46 (219)
Scoring Defense: 8 (18)
Turnover Margin: 47 (0.08)

Additional Notes:
Senior quarterback Anthony Morelli’s career has largely been considered a disappointment, but he did finish the season with an 18-to-9 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio … This game is a rematch of the 1999 Alamo Bowl, in which Penn State blanked A&M 24–0.

Prediction: Penn State by 3

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