Alabama is a 7-point road favorite over Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in the most anticipated college football game of the season.
Manziel led the Aggies to an upset of the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last season and would love nothing more than to shut his critics up by derailing the defending champions for a second straight time. LSU and Auburn are the only two teams to beat Alabama twice in Nick Saban’s eight seasons.
The Crimson Tide were uneven in an Sportsbook win over Virginia Tech, but had a week off to work out some kinks before heading to College Sportsbook. [ Alabama vs Texas A&M list of prop bets ]
Texas A&M got tuned up with a rout of San Houston State.
Alabama is 16-8 against the spread as a road favorite under Saban. The Aggies are 9-9-1 as home underdogs in last 10 seasons.
View Alabama vs Texas AM Odds and Stats.
Alabama Texas A&M Betting Line: Texas A&M were sitting as 7-point underdogs earlier in the week at Sportsbook. The total was sitting at 62 Tuesday, watch for line moves at Sportsbook during the week.
Power Rankings / Prediction: This game matches up the No. 93 (Aggies) and the No. 33 (Crimson Tide) teams in the league, according to our current NCAA Football Power Rankings at OddsShark. A 42-28 result in favor of the Aggies is predicted by handicapping models.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Texas A&M's No. 4-ranked offense, averaging 58.5 PPG, against a Crimson Tide defense that ranks No. 15 this week at 10 PPG. The Aggies aerial game is averaging 392 yards per game, more than the Crimson Tide secondary allows through the air, 59 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Crimson Tide own the league's No. 25-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 153 yards per game when on the road. Texas A&M, on the other hand, rates No. 54 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Last time out for Alabama, they were a 35-10 Sportsbook as they battled Virginia Tech on the road. Alabama covered in the match as a 21.5-point favorite, while 45 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Virginia Tech didn’t make much of a game of it last time out, losing to the Crimson Tide as Alabama blasted them 35-10 in Week 1 action.
Texas A&M won its last outing, a 65-28 result against Sam Houston State on September 7. Texas A&M covered in that game as a 35-point favorite, while the 93 combined points took the game OVER the total. Johnny Manziel's 426-yard performance through the air was enough last time out, as Texas A&M earned a 65-28 win over Sam Houston State on Saturday at Kyle Field.
Alabama Crimson Tide Trends:
When playing in September are 10-0
When playing on grass are 9-1
After being outgained are 7-3
When playing within the conference are 9-1
Texas A&M Aggies Trends:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 9-1
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing within the conference are 7-3
A few Crimson Tide at Aggies trends to consider:
Alabama is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Alabama is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Alabama's last 7 games on the road
Texas A&M is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Texas A&M is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Next up:
Alabama home to Colorado State, Saturday, September 21
Texas A&M home to Southern Methodist, Saturday, September 21
