2010 Season losses

[aggieraptor99]

A&M plays 12 games this (regular) season.  Assuming the Ags don't make the Big XII game, game 13 is a bowl.  Out of 12 regular season games I think that the Ags should only lose 3 games (at most).  The most likely losses are:

tu
ou
nebraska (or arkansas)

ou and nu come to Kyle Field, which gives the Ags a definite advantage.  Playing the horns in Austin will prove difficult, but not impossible.  All other games (in my opinion) should be wins, to include the bowl game.  I'd rather win a lower tier bowl game than lose a higher tier bowl for 2010.  For this season, A&M needs wins, especially a bowl win to cap off what should be a very good season. 

Bottom line is that if A&M is to win 9-10 games, there can only be a few losses that are acceptable (if not acceptable, at least realistic).  A&M won't win every game (as much as we'd like them to), but there's no reason not to lose 4 games or more.  Brent make a good point in that it is very important how those wins and losses come.  The Ags need strong wins and very close losses.  Any blowout loss is unacceptable. 

[BrentC4981]

Steve but do you see the huge problem here with A&M fans.  Even 3 years into Sherman and his tenure we're still writing off the hard games as "L's".  Fran beat bad teams, hell most average to below average coaches can beat bad teams, but look at a program like Washington, got a new HC went out beat USC and improved from winless (or maybe it was 1 win) in 2008 to 5 wins in 2009, now I don't know much about the program and the PAC-10 isn't the strongest conference around...but they showed drastic improvement instantly under a new coach, I can't imagine that program 3 years with that HC still hoping they don't get embarrassed by good teams, they're going to expect to beat those teams.

SFA, LT and FIU are basically glorified scrimmages...and much like last year should get A&M off to a 3-0 start

OSU: a must win, they're going to be down and it'll be a key road win for A&M to build on (4-0)

Arkansas: I still think they lose this game but it's a game I think if they lose they need to make it close (4-1)

Missouri: home game, this is the year A&M needs to protect Kyle Field again (5-1)

Kansas: another road game A&M needs to get but I just see them slipping up on this one (5-2)

Tech: I have no idea what Tubberville is going to do up there, brought in a high scoring OC and he's from a defensive minded background, but they beat them last year and need to show consistency (6-2)

OU: has embarrassed A&M 2 years in a row, my mind tells me that they should be down this year but my gut thinks they're going to be better than a lot of people think (6-3)

Baylor: please, if A&M loses again (2 outta 3 years) to Baylor you fire Sherman before he gets off the field (7-3)

Nebraska: last time they played both programs were in the last year of their old HC's, A&M won, both hired new HC's in 2007...A&M needs this win and better get it, it's a home game they have to start beating good teams (8-3)

TU: I still think you win this one.  It's in Austin sure but they've lost their 2 best offensive guys, a couple of big defensive guys and A&M needs to build on what it did last year in keeping up with them (9-3)

They do all of that...plus a bowl game (a win) and you end 10-3 with a very successful season.  Wins against a couple of good teams, you protect Kyle more than you have in a decade really, no blow out losses, a loss to a team you should of beat (KU)....but if you start switching say the TU win for a KU win then they end up with the same record but you lessen the importance of it.  But even say if you take KU and make it a win and turn Tech, TU and Nebraska all into losses then they're right back to 7-5, unimpressive. 

This is the year they have to take the next step

[aggieraptor99]

Brent,
I'm not saying that I would be happy with losses to tu, ou, nu, but rather that I expect to beat the other teams on the 2010 schedule with those (tu, ou, nu) having the greatest possibility of a loss.  I don't think we should expect to lose, rather the Ags must play with the expectation of winning every game.  To be realistic and objective, A&M won't have a perfect season so there will be a few losses.  Just how many (and how) being acceptable is up to debate. 

I don't see the Ags losing to kansas, but depending on what Tubberville can do, tech could beat the Ags.  Since the game is at Kyle, that would still be unacceptable!  I'd rather win at Kyle over ou and nu than on the road vs ku and osu.  Though I'd be pissed losing to osu & ku, I think that winning at Kyle is priority.  It's time to take back Kyle. 

Long story short, this is the type of discussion A&M fans should be having year in and year out.  Not about "hoping" for wins and hoping not to get blown out, but rather on how few games could be lost and to whom.  For 2011 and beyond it should be what 1-2 games could A&M possibly lose enroute to the Big XII Championship.  That's my expectation.  Reality may not always line up with it, but I don't think think that A&M should have low standards.   

[AggieDad11]

Long story short, this is the type of discussion A&M fans should be having year in and year out.  Not about "hoping" for wins and hoping not to get blown out, but rather on how few games could be lost and to whom.  For 2011 and beyond it should be what 1-2 games could A&M possibly lose enroute to the Big XII Championship.  That's my expectation.  Reality may not always line up with it, but I don't think think that A&M should have low standards.   

That pretty much says it all.

[lancelot]

I'm still trying to decide between 8-4 and 9-3.  I think we stubb our toe once against someone we shouldnt & win one no one picks us to:

 WIN-tards:  Tub's doesnt want to be in Lubbock, team shows it

 Loss/Win- Ark:  This is the game that makes the difference between a 9-3 season & 8-4

 Loss- gaylor:  I hate to say it, but this is going to be a shoot out (I pray I'm wrong)

 Loss- zero-u:  I think they are nc game material, if they are consistant at qb

 Loss-  tu: I hate to concede to the steers, but muschamp will have something to prove after their teams
           worst defensive game last year...

8-4 is ok with me as long as we are competitive and showing signs of seriously turning a corner!!  No blowouts and no more looking like we are constantly being out coached!!

[mmgray02]

We beat ark. & thier two-faced lying SOB coach.
We probably lose to ou.  Hopefully a close game.  
We beat the tards.
We beat tu in a very close game.
We lose one other (probably neb. or missouri).

10-2 & 2nd place in the South

Of course, I reserve the right to change my predictions after the game at Jerry World.  
That game will show if this is last years team or a much improved one.

[aggieraptor99]

Loss- gaylor:  I hate to say it, but this is going to be a shoot out (I pray I'm wrong)

This would justify firing sherman.  No way in hell gaylor beats A&M, though I agree that A&M will lose a game it should win...it won't be gaylor.  They have one good (very good) player in their QB.  That one player is not enough to stack up against Texas A&M.  gaylor will play tough, but c'mon, it's gaylor!  Not to say that the Ags will walk away with win if they give zero effort, but losing is completly unacceptable.  A&M can have half of its starters out and still expect to beat the bears.

[BrentC4981]

I read today an article that said Les Miles is feeling the heat at LSU.  Which I agree with to some extent.  But what I see as the bigger picture is a school who expects to win, the attitude A&M is lacking right now.

The man is only in his 6th year and won a NC in 2007, yet because he has struggled the last 2 years (17-9 is what they consider struggle) some say the heat maybe on him to turn it around.

Yet...at A&M right now I think we're all pretty sure Sherman isn't going anywhere as long as BB is the AD, and BB isn't getting canned unless Sherman only manages about 5 wins, which just isn't going to happen.  It's just an attitude of acceptance of the excuse that "we will do well"...and has been that the WHOLE time under BB, with zero results on the field to prove it.

I think winning at A&M starts and stops with the attitude about winning at A&M and right now the fans seem to care more than the people running the program