Saturday, Oct. 3, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 3:30 p.m. ET
Texas A&M Aggies
Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher doesn’t think we saw his real team in the 17-12 win over Vanderbilt last week. “A victory is a victory, but all three phases didn’t play how I thought we could or how we can,” he said. Kelly Mond passed for a modest 189 yards (17 of 28) and rushed for only 18. But running back Isaiah Spiller rushed for 117 on just eight carries for a 14.6 per-carry average.
Caleb Chapman (4-40) and Jalen Preston (4-39) led the receivers. The defense held the Commodores to just 255 yards in total offense with 150 of that through the air. Aaron Hansford and Buddy Johnson led that effort with 10 tackles each and Leon O’Neal Jr. and DeMarvin Richardson each had interceptions.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Mac Jones was an efficient 18 of 24 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns and Najee Harris came up just two yards short of posting a 100-yard rushing game as the Crimson Tide established their domination early in their opener at Missouri, jumping in front 35-3 before coasting in for the 38-19 win over the Tigers.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that it was a good win for the opening game of the season,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. Free safety Daniel Wright had 11 tackles, all solo stops, to lead the defensive charge. Cornerback Josh Jobe, linebacker Christian Harris, and defensive end LaBryan Ray all came up with sacks
Texas A&M Aggies at Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Pick
The Aggies were charged with eight penalties for 50 yards and turned the ball over three times in their win over Vanderbilt. Those are the kind of things they can’t afford if they want to have a shot at knocking off the Tide. The Tide has won seven in a row over the Aggies since a 29-24 loss in Tuscaloosa in 2012.
Texas Aggies at Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Pick: Crimson Tide (-16.5) 42, Aggies (+16.5) 17
Texas Aggies at Alabama Crimson Tide Best Bet
Saban is 19-0 against his former assistants and that includes a 3-0 mark against Fisher, who lost the only meeting when he was at Florida State and is 0-2 against Saban the last two seasons at Texas A&M. The two teams combined for 68 points in their 2018 meeting and 75 last season. It is a trend that is likely to continue.
Texas Aggies at Alabama Crimson Tide Best Bet: OVER 52.5
Best Bet: OVER 55
