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Missouri-Texas A&M Preview

Oct 13, 2010 - 1:03 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Missouri (5-0) at Texas A&M (3-2), 12:00 p.m. EDT

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is a big reason why his team is unbeaten, but as the No. 21 Tigers prepare to begin a challenging stretch of their schedule, they are concerned about a hip injury he suffered last weekend.

Gabbert will be back under center Saturday when Missouri takes its perfect record on the road for the first time this season against Texas A&M.

The Tigers (5-0, 1-0) are tied with Nebraska atop the Big 12 North after a 26-0 win over Colorado last Saturday. Gabbert went 17 of 29 for 191 yards and two touchdowns, but had to sit out most of the fourth quarter with what is being called a high right hip pointer.

Coach Gary Pinkel expects Gabbert, who is averaging 246.0 yards passing and has thrown for seven touchdowns, to practice this week, but how much remains to be seen. The Tigers are concerned about the amount of torque Gabbert is able to generate through his hips when going through his throwing motion.

Gabbert, however, said there is no doubt he'll start Saturday. He has not missed a game since taking over as a starter last season. In 2009, he finished his sophomore campaign second in the Big 12 with 3,593 passing yards and had 24 touchdowns.

"It's just a nagging deal, I'm good to go," he said. "If I had to put a percentage on how I feel right now, I would say I'm at 109 percent."

Gabbert spearheads an offense that averages 35.4 points per game - among the top 30 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Tigers will need their quarterback to be at 100 percent as they start a difficult stretch of their schedule, playing three of four on the road, including back-to-back games against No. 6 Oklahoma at home and No. 5 Nebraska on the road. A win Saturday would give Missouri its first 6-0 start since 2006.

"It's a big challenge for us," defensive back Carl Gettis said. "I think it will really help us determine where we are ... as a team and help us determine how good we are, and where we want to be.

Texas A&M (3-2, 0-1) is coming off consecutive losses by a combined 10 points, falling 24-17 to then-No. 11 Arkansas last Saturday. The Aggies had a chance to tie on the final play but Jerrod Johnson was intercepted in the end zone. Johnson, who finished 15 of 40 for 212 yards, has seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in the last three games.

"I'd be lying to say that he didn't internalize a little pressure on himself to make sure he didn't have any miscues with the football, but it didn't take away his aggressiveness," coach Mike Sherman said. "He read things very well and made good decisions and made some big-time throws."

Sherman's team is among the top 20 in yards per game with 472.6, but ranks second in the nation with 18 turnovers.

"You're taking away possessions," he said. "At some point, when you give the ball back you take away chances and opportunities."

The Aggies will have to do a better job protecting the ball against a Missouri team that has forced 14 turnovers, including nine interceptions. The Tigers rank third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 11.2 points per game.

Texas A&M returns home after playing its last two games on the road, including in Dallas last weekend. The Aggies are 3-0 at home this season, but have dropped four in a row at College Station against top 25 opponents.

Missouri has won three of the last four meetings with Texas A&M. This is the first time the teams have met since the Tigers' 40-26 win in 2007.