The undefeated and top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC) clash with the Texas A&M Aggies (3-2, 1-1 SEC) in a SEC West divisional showdown. The Aggies handed Alabama their only regular season loss last year, a 41-38 thriller, thanks to a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Saturday’s kickoff is at 8 p.m. EST inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Alabama is a heavy betting favorite at -24, and the over/under total is 51.0 points.
What to Know – Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M was throttled last week at Mississippi State, 42-24, and now has to brush the dirt off and get ready for another road trip to a hostile environment. The Aggies came into the year as a consensus Top-10 team but have fallen out of the Top 25 because of a pair of losses.
LSU transfer Max Johnson took over the starting role from Haynes King but appears to be sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a finger injury. The quarterbacking duties will return to King, who completed 39-of-64 passes for 510 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Junior running back Devon Achane has accounted for over 70% of the Aggies’ rushing yards, carrying the ball 81 times for 466 yards and three scores. LJ Johnson Jr. is sparingly used, but the rusher has nine carries this season, with two making it to the endzone.
Veteran wide receiver Ainias Smith leads the Aggies receiving core, averaging 19.4 yards per catch. Smith has hauled in 15 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Evan Stewart leads the team in catches with 18, going for 197 yards and a score.
What to Know – #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
There is a reason why Alabama leapfrogged the Georgia Bulldogs and jumped into the top spot. The Crimson Tide have dominated their opponent every week, averaging 48.4 points per game while allowing just 11.0 points per contest.
Heisman-hopefully Bryce Young has continued to lead the Crimson Tide under center, connecting on 14 touchdowns and 1,202 yards through the air. Young has done it on the ground also, rushing for 154 yards and three touchdowns.
Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs is averaging a ridiculous 8.8 yards every time he is handed the ball. Gibbs has tallied 485 total yards, 378 rushing, and 207 receiving while accounting for five touchdowns.
Young spreads the ball around to his pass-catchers but favors wide receiver Traeshon Holden who leads the team with four receiving touchdowns. On the other side of the field, wide out Kobe Prentice adds 211 yards on 15 receptions with one trip to the endzone.
The Pick is In
Is Alabama the better team? Yes. Are the Aggies playing their second consecutive road tilt against a tough opponent? Yes. Has Nick Saban owned his former coaches? Yes.
However, this Aggies roster is stocked with talent, and Jimbo will have a game plan to attack the Crimson Tide and keep it close.
The Pick: Texas A&M Aggies +24
