The Texas Longhorns (1-0) host the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) in a Week 2 battle of college football bluebloods. Texas owns a 7-1-1 all-time record in the series, but the Crimson Tide dealt the Longhorns a 37-21 defeat the last time these two met in the BCS Championship back in 2010.
The kickoff for Saturday’s marquee matchup is at 12 p.m. EST inside DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Crimson Tide are a 20-point betting favorite, and the over-under total is 65.5 points.
What to Know – #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama opened up the 2022 season with a dominating effort in a 55-0 victory over Utah State in Tuscaloosa. The preseason season favorites to win the national title, the Crimson Tide looked the part against last year’s Mountain West champion. Head coach Nick Saban is in his 16th season as head coach of the Crimson Tide.
Bryce Young threw five touchdown passes and added another on the ground, tallying 295 total yards of offense. Young is second behind OSU’s C.J. Stroud in the Heisman ballot after a week of play.
Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs looked the part of the next talented Alabama running back with nine carries for 93 yards. Gibbs rushed for 1,206 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 60 passes for 773 yards and five scores during his two years as a Yellow Jacket.
Alabama wide receivers are going to be a problem for opposing defensive coaches with a deep and talented core of players. Three pass-catchers caught two touchdowns each in last week’s win, led by Traeshon Holden, with two of his five receptions going for scores. Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton and Jase McClellan also added multiple touchdown scores.
What to Know – Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns had no issues in their season opener against UL-Monroe, sending the Warhawks home with a 52-10 loss. Steve Sarkisian is in his second season as the head coach of the Longhorns after a 6-7 record in his debut season.
All eyes were on starting quarterback Quinn Ewers in last week’s victory. The former five-star prospect and Ohio State Buckeye played well, completing 16-of-24 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Star rusher Bijan Robinson did most of his damage in the first half, carrying the ball ten times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Robinson was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2021 and Preseason AP All-American.
Wideout Ja’Tavion Sanders led the Longhorns hauling in six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Robinson added three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield.
The Pick is In
You don’t make money betting against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, but we are going to go against that mantra here. Texas looked solid in their opener, and the pair of Ewers and Robinson should give even the Alabama defense fits. Alabama wins, but Texas keeps this within 17 points.
The Pick: Texas Longhorns +20
