Here is everything you need to know, from current betting odds to DFS picks and fantasy football players to play, included in our Texas A&M vs. Alabama prediction.
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Texas A&M vs. Alabama Betting Preview
- Spread: Alabama (-24)
- Moneyline: Alabama (-2400); Texas A&M (+1200)
- Over/Under: 51 points
- Game time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Predicted weather at kick: 59 degrees, clear skies, 3-4 mph winds
What was expected to be a battle of two undefeated teams with coaches who wanted to settle an offseason beef has now turned into the near-opposite. Texas A&M fans are questioning Jimbo Fisher’s large contract, and Alabama is more focused on the long-term health of the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and starting quarterback, Bryce Young.
The beef is squashed between Fisher and legendary head coach Nick Saban, at least on the surface, after their offseason spat saw them exchange verbal shots through different media outlets. Still, the headlines write themselves after last year when Fisher became the first of Saban’s former assistants to finally secure a regular-season win against Saban after double-digit attempts by many former disciples.
The Crimson Tide seek atonement for last year’s defeat, while the Aggies seek answers, just plain-ole answers, on just about everything.
Top DFS picks and fantasy plays
- QB Bryce Young, Alabama *likely out ($10,500)
- QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama ($9,000)
- QB Max Johnson, Texas A&M *out ($6,600)
- QB Haynes King, Texas A&M ($6,600)
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama ($8,600)
- RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M ($8,300)
- RB Jase McClellan, Alabama ($5,900)
- RB LJ Johnson Jr., Texas A&M ($4,900)
- RB Trey Sanders, Alabama ($4,500)
- WR Traeshon Holden, Alabama ($7,100)
- WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama ($6,100)
- WR Kobe Prentice, Alabama ($6,000)
- WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M ($5,600)
- WR Ja’Corey Brooks, Alabama ($5,500)
- WR Moose Muhammad III, Texas A&M ($5,500)
- WR Chris Marshall, Texas A&M ($5,000)
- WR Chase Lane, Texas A&M ($4,900)
- WR Isaiah Bond, Alabama ($4,700)
- TE Cameron Latu, Alabama ($5,100)
- TE Donovan Green, Texas A&M ($5,100)
The big question here was always going to be whether Bryce Young could play. Young was relatively ineffective to the bottom line of last year’s meeting with Texas A&M but did have a good game overall. This year, he’s been playing his best football over the past two games, Arkansas game included, and the dynamics of this entire Alabama offense changes without him in the lineup.
The proverbial training wheels will likely be kept on with Jalen Milroe expected to start at quarterback. Milroe performed admirably last weekend when pressed into duty, but his most notable contribution comes with his legs for the time being.
After speaking to an injury specialist, the latest news from Young appears to be that he could play, but it would be about pain management with his injury. Even if he does play, you could expect him to be hesitant to take the deep shot downfield as torquing his body to add strength to any throws would be very painful.
Without clearcut injury reports in college football, it’s a safe bet to stay away from this game not only because of the unknown, but also because of the fact that A&M’s secondary has been their best defensive feature this season.
If Milroe does play, the running game for Alabama will surely get cooking. That makes Jahmyr Gibbs a must-start running back this weekend in all forms. At this current value, Gibbs is a high-floor, higher-ceiling player this week. His influence in the passing game (19 receptions, 207 yards, 3 TD) makes him a threat to score on the ground and through the air, and he should get targeted even more if Milroe does start.
Moose Muhammad III, the son of former NFL Pro Bowl WR Muhsin Muhammad, is likely the only play for Texas A&M. He gets a favorable matchup against Alabama corners from the interior of their defense and should be on the rise again with Ainias Smith out for the year.
Prediction for Texas A&M vs. Alabama
A game filled with preseason aspirations of College GameDay, undefeated teams, and general anticipation around a handshake between coaches has morphed into something less than that. Even if the SEC wants you to believe it just means more, this game revolves around one thing: the health of Bryce Young.
Does Young go? Will he be effective if he does play? We’ve seemingly got our answer to the former as the latter was always easier to answer. The strain on his shoulder when launching anything over 10 yards downfield would be immense for Young. Seeing as his downfield accuracy and the timing on his anticipatory passes are key to his game, his effectiveness will absolutely be limited whenever he does return.
Looking elsewhere, it’s the A&M defense that steals the show for the Aggies this weekend, yet they just allowed 42 points to Mississippi State, as they couldn’t stop downfield passes or anything underneath. Earlier this season, they couldn’t stop the Appalachian State rushing attack.
Alabama has the chance to exploit these discrepancies on defense, and the question then turns to whether or not the A&M offense can score any points at all.
No prediction will find Texas A&M getting shut out by Alabama, but it may be closer than some expect in that regard. They mustered 23 points including a defensive touchdown against Arkansas, the same Razorbacks defense against which Milroe ran for 91 yards and scored two total touchdowns last week.
Neither Haynes King nor Max Johnson has been relatively effective this season. With Johnson out for this game, King will put his three-touchdown, four-interception line to the test against an improving Alabama secondary.
Kool-Aid McKinstry has been a revelation this fall, improving on a great true freshman season last year and putting himself squarely in the conversation as one of the top cornerbacks in the country. He takes away the top threat for each opponent, in this case, Evan Stewart, and will essentially force opposing offenses to beat the ‘Bama defense in other ways.
Henry To’oTo’o and Jaylen Moody have flown around the field this year with great success, freed up in favorable matchups due to the presence of Will Anderson Jr. along the edge. The embarrassment of riches in Tuscaloosa, on both sides of the ball, should be evident.
Those riches spoil the Aggies’ chances at a repeat performance of last year. The master of developing talent shows off just how important full roster development is as Saban wins convincingly over his former pupil.
Prediction: Alabama 38, Texas A&M 13
