Our picks for the Lone Star Showdown in College Station

The Lone Star Showdown is back.

For the first time since 2011, No. 20 Texas A&M (9-2) hosts No. 3 Texas (10-1) in College Station on Saturday with a spot in the SEC Championship on the line.

The last time these two teams met, the Longhorns secured a 27-25 victory over the Aggies thanks to a game-winning field goal from Justin Tucker. Will the duel on Saturday be decisive like last time?

Columnists, authors and editors from The Dallas Morning News make their selections for this weekend’s game. Check out their predictions below.

Lia Assimakopoulos, college sports insider

Texas’ defense will overwhelm an A&M team that is coming off two straight losses for the first time this season. The Longhorns will overcome the hostile Kyle Field atmosphere to set up a rematch with Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

Texas 30, Texas A&M 14

Tim Cowlishaw, columnist

The Longhorns’ offense continues to struggle as Kyle Field’s 12th man crowd has the desired effect. But Texas’ defense has the playmakers to make the difference as Texas holds on to reach the SEC title game.

Texas 26, Texas A&M 20

Selby Lopez, college sports editor

Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns have experience winning in difficult environments, beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year and Michigan in Ann Arbor in September. The 100,000-plus fans at Kyle Field will give the Longhorns their toughest test. Even with an ankle injury, Ewers should give the Longhorns enough offensive advantage over his counterpart, A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, to lead Texas to a narrow road win.

Texas 28, Texas A&M 24

Shawn McFarland, sports reporter

Texas will take a decent lead in the first half behind a humming offense led by Quinn Ewers, but everything will fall out of rhythm in the third quarter, allowing Texas A&M to take the lead again. Longhorns linebacker David Gbenda said it himself this week: “A lot of people who don’t know the ball probably cut it (the Aggies) off (after their early deficit against Auburn last Saturday), but I said no, that’s fine.” “Be a game.” Don’t be surprised if the same thing happens at Kyle Field.

Texas 35, Texas A&M 31

Kevin Sherrington, columnist

The Longhorns can prove once and for all that they beat a good team in a tough environment if their defense plays as well as usual and Quinn Ewers plays at the level he has played at in equally tough spots. Think Tuscaloosa. Texas’ main problems? Contain Marcel Reed, block out the noise and Ewers’ sensitive ankle. If he’s even more limited than usual, it could give the Aggies the opportunity they need. In this case, the Aggies’ home field advantage is among the best in college football. Win this game and Texas will deserve its rematch against Georgia.

Texas 24, Texas A&M 20

Brad Townsend, sports reporter

If Quinn Ewers’ ankle injury limits his mobility, as it did against Kentucky, Arch Manning may have to save Texas at hostile Kyle Field. Aggies redshirt freshman QB hurt Texas with his running ability, but the ballhawking Longhorns (17 interceptions) will force Reed into one mistake too many.

Texas 31, A&M 26

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