by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Oct 07, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Alabama -24
FanDuel: Alabama -23.5
BetMGM: Alabama -24.5
Caesars: Alabama -24
Season record
Texas A&M: 3-2 (1-1 SEC)
No. 1 Alabama: 5-0 (2-0 SEC)
Another week, another crazy set of circumstances in college football! Georgia almost loss, Bryce Young left but Alabama still won, etc. All the craziness, all the drama through a month into the season. What in the world are we getting next? How about starting with a 6-1-0 run from Kyle Hunter this past weekend? Our top handicapper in the college football realm had himself a very good week. What will next week have in store with a lot of shakings in the top 25 to be expected? Make sure to follow all of our champion handicappers and their picks in our Best Bets section, where you can expect more of Kyle's and others' picks to get you on the right side of winning this week at bigal.com.
Texas A&M - Alabama preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Texas A&M: lost 42-24 at Mississippi State
Alabama: won 49-26 at Arkansas
The last time the Alabama Crimson Tide met with the Texas A&M Aggies, College Station was burnt to the ground through the party fires of Upset City. And the next day, the Phoenix rose through the ashes and put the campus back together as if nothing ever happened. And as fate would have it, Alabama is once again the No. 1 team in the country, but there will be no burning of the campus in College Station. The Tide will host the Aggies this year in what might be another classic battle between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban.
The last time the Alabama Crimson Tide met with the Texas A&M Aggies, College Station was burnt to the ground through the party fires of Upset City. And the next day, the Phoenix rose through the ashes and put the campus back together as if nothing ever happened. And as fate would have it, Alabama is once again the No. 1 team in the country, but there will be no burning of the campus in College Station. The Tide will host the Aggies this year in what might be another classic battle between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban.
“We could say it was the same situation a year ago,” Saban said.
It does mirror that to some extent, but it’s definitely got a different flavor to it. Alabama has been in a constant struggle with Georgia for the top ranking, while Texas A&M started the year No. 6 in the country and have now plummeted to unranked thanks to their latest struggle: a 42-24 loss in Starksville to Mississippi State.
The Aggies turned it over four times with Haynes King throwing two interceptions in relief of Max Johnson, who has a hand injury. He’s listed as day-to-day for the SEC tilt on primetime television this Saturday. Last year’s matchup did about everything that it could for Alabama but cost them a shot at the national championship. Alabama recovered, won the SEC title over Georgia before losing to Georgia in the national title game. So, everything worked out the way that it did.
But it might not just be Texas A&M that rolls with the backup quarterback. Heisman Tropohy winner Bryce Young sustained a shoulder injury in their win over Arkansas last week. Backup Jalen Milroe came in to throw 65 yards and a touchdown, but also ran for 91 yards and a score including a 77-yard run that put the game away for good.
"Bryce has a little AC sprain in his shoulder. We'll have to take it day-to-day," Saban said after the game, only confirming now that Young is day-to-day. "I think he's OK. He doesn't have a serious injury."
But it was big enough for Alabama to have a 28-point lead and have it go to five points in a matter of a quarter or so. Young was pedestrian at best before leaving the game, completing 7 of 13 passes for 173 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He outplayed KJ Jefferson, for what it’s worth.
"We didn't maintain our intensity. We let them get back in the game at one point," Saban said. "The kicking game errors, the onside kick, the bad snap on the punt. Those were really our errors."
Should Texas A&M pull off another upset this time around, the Tide will be in more trouble than last year. It’s a home game, as well as this tight battle with Georgia for the top spot. One loss could send Alabama closer to 10 than anything.
“It left a really bad taste in my mouth, (and) other guys on the roster’s mouths,” Tide safety DeMarcco Hellams said. “It’s something we definitely remember from last year and it’s definitely helped in our preparation for those guys this year.”
Prediction
But that will not be happening this time. Alabama, with or without Young, will come out and have a great game and everything will be right in the world of Tuscaloosa. Alabama by 24
Betting trends
Texas A&M is 20-42 ATS as a road underdog since 1992.
Texas A&M is 11-3 ATS after playing two consecutive conference games in the last three years.
Alabama is 12-3 ATS as a home favorite the past three seasons.
Alabama is 9-2 ATS as a home favorite of 21.5 or more the past three years.
Statistical leaders
Texas A&M:
Passing: Max Johnson -- 517 yards, 3 TD
Rushing: Devon Achane -- 466 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Ainias Smith -- 291 yards, 2 TD
Alabama:
Passing: Bryce Young -- 1,202 yards, 14 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Jahmyr Gibbs -- 378 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Traeshon Holden -- 228 yards, 4 TD
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Texas A&M Aggies - Alabama Crimson Tide prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college football projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
