Can anyone give top-ranked Alabama a competitive game? The Tide look invincible as they visit SEC West rival Texas A&M on Saturday night in one of college football’s marquee matchups of Week 6. Sports Interaction NCAA football odds expect another blowout.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas A&M Aggies
When: Saturday, 7:15 PM ET
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
Point Spread: Alabama -26.5
Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Crimson Tide (5-0 SU, 3-2 ATS) have been single-digit favourites just once so far and they easily covered the 7.5 points in a season-opening 24-7 win over then-No. 3 Florida State. No team has come any closer than that, although this will be the toughest road test so far. Sorry, traveling to Vanderbilt as Alabama did two weeks ago doesn’t compare to playing at Kyle Field. The Tide have covered 12 of their past 14 road games.
The Aggies (4-1 SU, 3-1-1 ATS) have arguably the worst loss of any team in the country, impossibly blowing a 44-10 late third-quarter lead in Week 1 at UCLA, which won 45-44 in the biggest comeback victory in the FBS in 11 years. A&M hasn’t lost since but was pushed to the limit the past two weeks vs. Arkansas and South Carolina. These two schools have met five times since A&M joined the SEC, and the Tide have won the past four and covered the previous three.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide opened the season as the No. 1 team in the nation and as heavy favourites to win a fifth national championship under Coach Nick Saban, and nothing has changed. We could be looking at a third straight title game matchup between Alabama and No. 2 Clemson. Theoretically, the SEC is the country’s best conference, but Alabama has won its first two in conference play this season by a combined 125-3, surpassing 600 yards in both games against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. Alabama’s 63-point margin of victory (66-3) over the Rebels on Saturday was the largest in the SEC in the past 10 years. It’s the first time ever that Bama has had consecutive 50-point wins against FBS opponents. QB Jalen Hurts is a Heisman candidate, throwing for 747 yards and six scores and leading the team with 461 rushing yards (also has four TDs).
Texas A&M Aggies
Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin entered this season on probably the hottest seat in the SEC, although he has been replaced in that regard by Tennessee’s embattled Butch Jones. You may remember in 2012 that A&M went to Tuscaloosa and upset No. 1 Alabama 29-24 behind a quarterback named Johnny Manziel. He became a household name that day and would win the Heisman Trophy. The Tide won close the next season but have taken the past three vs. the Aggies each by at least 18 points. If that happens again, Sumlin might not be able to save his job regardless of what happens the rest of the way. He’s starting a true freshman at quarterback – never a good thing vs. an Alabama defense – in Kellen Mond. He was awful in relief vs. UCLA (3-for-17, 27 yards) but has steadily improved since.
Alabama vs. Texas A&M Prediction
The Tide will win the game, but 26.5 points is an awful lot. Aggies cover in a 45-28 loss.
