In the preseason, the game between Alabama and Texas A&M looked like the main date on the Week 6 college football schedule, if not the main draw of the entire year.
A&M was destined to be the next big thing in the SEC West after that historic recruiting run and was in a position to give Nick Saban a jumpstart in the division.
But the Aggies’ struggles since the start of the season, culminating in two losses in five games behind a surprisingly anemic offense, took some of the shine off the game.
Alabama, as expected, is perfect for five weeks, back at the No. 1 position in the top 25 rankings after Georgia’s recent setbacks, and boasting the No. 4 total scoring and attacking unit in the nation. .
But don’t let slow starts fool you: A&M defeated the No. 1 Tide a year ago at Kyle Field while unranked and 3-2 going into it. How are you this week?
Here’s what you need to know about this Saturday’s matchup.
Alabama vs. Preview and Prediction Texas A&M
College Football Week 6: Alabama vs. Texas A&M
how to look
When: Saturday, October 8
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Television: CBS Network
Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
More college football on SI: college football results | college football rankings | college football schedule
Odds, point spread, betting lines
Courtesy SI Sportsbook
Line: Alabama -24.5
Texas A&M ATS: 2-3
Alabama ATS: 4-1
S/U: 51.5
Money line: A&M +1400 BAMA -5000
FPI Choice: Alabama 96.2%
Related: Picks, predictions for Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Week 6 College Football Odds, Distribution, Lines
Alabama vs. Texas A&M: What you need to know
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane
College Football HQ turns to team experts on the SI Fannation network for detailed coverage of Saturday’s game
Christopher Walsh of Bama Central helps provide the keys to the showdown
Bama needs to become unpredictable. Alabama is going to do anything and everything it can to keep Texas A&M in doubt about its offense, and not just because of Bryce Young’s shoulder injury. When the reigning Heisman Trophy winner left the Arkansas game in the second quarter last week, the Crimson Tide turned to their running game and eventually ran over the Razorbacks.
Jimbo Fisher will obviously get a good read on how much more Nick Saban could try and rely more on the running game, but that doesn’t mean the Aggies will be able to hold him off for four quarters. The guess here is that Alabama is trying to rest Young as much as possible in practice this week, but he will start and the Crimson Tide will mix things up more, including with a Jalen Milroe package. But no one knows, and Saban is unwilling to tip. — Christopher Walsh, center of Bama
“Hateful competitors.” Fully aware that Alabama may have something special on defense, Saban has been pushing a button with this group in particular to be relentless and unrelenting. Specifically with the Texas game, he talked about how Alabama used to have “hateful competitors on our team, and when they played away from home, they were mad at 100,000 people, not just the 11 guys they were playing against. They wanted to try something for everyone.” .
He won’t have to push any buttons this week because of the upset loss to Texas A&M last year. Hometown fans will be itching for revenge, Young is playing hurt and the unit is upset that he let Arkansas get off the canvas a bit last week. With a good defensive line, a veteran secondary and an incredible pass rush, Alabama has the potential to finish first nationally in every major team defensive category. — Christopher Walsh
Waking up Aggie’s offense. This unit isn’t exactly producing yards right now, averaging less than 290 total in the two games it’s lost, and it struggled with turnovers last week, losing four to Mississippi State in a 42-game loss. 24, with three of them arriving in the red zone. Overall, the Aggies average 108th in shooting just under 22 points per game, 105th in total production and 101st in shooting.
Now that Max Johnson is dealing with a likely season-ending hand injury, expect Haynes King to step in. He was benched after starting the first 2 games, including the loss to App State, and while he brings some mobility to the position, King is missing the receiver after the injury of top target Ainias Smith. Devon Achane is a talented all-around running back, pass catcher and specialist, but he can’t do it all. — College football headquarters
Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Fast Facts
+ Devon Achane is third in the SEC with 93.20 rushing yards per game
+ Alabama ranks first nationally with 7.35 rushing yards per attempt and second with 251.4 rushing yards per game
+ A&M is 3rd in SEC with 5 forced fumbles, 1 in each game
+ The Tide offensive line is credited with allowing 5 sacks, but actual linemen have only allowed 2 or 1 per 82 pass attempts
+ Aggies are 28-4 under Fisher when scoring first and 9-11 when not
+ Alabama averages 5.44 plays per scoring drive and 1:53 per possession
+ Achane is 1st in the Power 5 with 166.4 multipurpose yards per game
+ Tide has won 49 of the last 50 games when scoring a TD in their first drive, with loss 1 last season at A&M
+ Aggies are 26-0 when leading after the first quarter and 6-13 when not under Fisher
+ Alabama ranks second nationally in third down defense (16 of 76, or 21.1%)
+ A&M is 30-2 when leading at the half with Fisher and 4-13 when trailing
+ Saban is 8-2 against Texas A&M in Alabama, losing the first game (2012) and the most recent (2021)
+ Aggies are 2-7 behind Fisher against top 5 AP ranked teams
+ Alabama is 29-0 at home in October with Saban
Texas A&M vs Alabama Prediction
The eyes of the college football world will be on the right shoulder of quarterback Bryce Young, especially with how close Alabama played against Texas early on and remembering Arkansas’ frantic comeback attempt.
A&M’s defensive numbers may not jump off the page, and there are concerns about their ability to generate a consistent pass rush from the edges, but the unit held all opponents to 21 or fewer points through last week, and It will be the best coordinated secondary. the Tide will pull against you up to this point.
A&M’s only chance is to clamp down on those passing lanes early enough to throw Alabama’s passing attack out of rhythm, and try to push Young in the pocket and reduce his important playability.
Because aside from 1 or 2 big runs from Achane, and maybe a return that puts the offense in scoring position, there’s not enough on the Aggies’ side to credibly threaten the chasing Crimson Tide pack near the line. .
College Football Venue Prediction: Alabama 38, Texas A&M 16
According to the AP Top 25 Poll
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Clemson
- USC
- oklahoma state
- Tennessee
- old lady
- State of Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- State of North Carolina
- forest stele
- BYU
- TCU
- University of California at Los Angeles
- Kansas
- state of kansas
- Washington
- Syracuse
- mississippi state
- Cincinnati
- LSU
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