Texas A&M Football vs. Alabama Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 6

The big win by Texas A&M football last week has set up quite the showdown in Kyle Field this week against the Crimson Tide. The winner of this game will be firmly entrenched as the leader in the clubhouse to win the West, which is the first time in a while that this can be said about this game. Let’s take a look at the odds and make a prediction.

Texas A&M Football vs. Alabama Odds, Spread and Total

This is the closest a line has been in this game since the Aggies joined the SEC. Even back in 2013, the Tide were favored by more. It will definitely be a point of interest to see how the line moves as we get closer to kickoff.

Texas A&M Football vs. Alabama How to Watch

Date: October 7, 2023
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET/2:30 PM CT
Venue: Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
How to Watch: CBS or streaming
Texas A&M Record: 4-1
Arkansas Record: 4-1

Texas A&M Football vs. Alabama Key Players to Watch

Here’s who to keep your eye on for each team:

Alabama

Jalen Milroe: Milroe’s performance in this game last year was just enough to put the Tide over the top, despite the close call in the waning seconds of the game. A year removed, he is definitely more experienced, but his issues remain fundamentally the same. A QB that holds on to the ball for too long doesn’t mesh well with such an aggressive defensive front like the one the Tide will be facing.

Dallas Turner: This is the season where Turner proves he isn’t a pass-rusher completely made by playing opposite Will Anderson. So far, he’s been more productive than last season but it’s clear that the Alabama pass rush as a whole isn’t of the same quality that it was in 2022. He’ll have an opportunity in this one, though, as Johnson is similarly prone to holding onto the ball too long.

Kool-Aid McKinstry: A+ name for the Tide’s top corner. He’s not truly a lockdown player in the style of a Patrick Surtain, but he’s one of the better players in the conference at his position. He and the Bama secondary will have their hands full against A&M, though, as they roll out what is doubtless the deepest and most talented WR group they’ve yet seen.

Texas A&M

Jake Johnson: If you read my offseason preview of this game, you’ll recall that this matchup with Jimbo as the head coach for Texas A&M football has, more often than not, resulted in a big game for the tight ends. Johnson and Wright are both starting to come on, but I especially see Jake making some plays here.

Ainias Smith: Smith has got a little bit of extra personal motivation in this game, as most Texas A&M football fans are aware. He’s shown up big in every matchup against the Tide he’s played in (he missed last year, as he was already out for the season with injury), and I expect to see him add another touchdown or two against Bama to his resume this week, whether in the pass game, run game, or return game.

Demani Richardson: Richardson has had a penchant for making huge plays in this matchup. He’s recorded two end-zone picks against the Tide at Kyle, and I’d wager he’s ready to add a third one to that ledger. He’s been playing solid ball this year apart from a few choice plays in Coral Gables, and I’m ready to see what he has in store for this one.

Texas A&M Football vs. Alabama: Prediction and Pick

The coordinator hires this offseason for Alabama, much like those for Arkansas, were not exactly home runs. Tommy Rees’s offense has struggled to be effective; of course, Milroe is no Bryce Young, but you can’t deny that there seems to a lack of development on the offensive side that hasn’t been there in years past. The Alabama defense, though, is legit: Steele has a good track record, and I like him better than Golding for sure. I don’t think he was the best name out there at the position, however; Lance Guidry, for example, is a better coach pound-for-pound in my book. That said, Steele has a solid unit going that will challenge Max Johnson and the Aggie offense. This will be Petrino’s biggest challenge yet, and I’m also curious to see what contributions, if any, that Jimbo makes this week—he usually has a great script ready for the Tide. There are just too many things going for Texas A&M football in contradistinction to Alabama this year, though: I think the Tide offense matches up worse against the Aggie defense than the Aggie offense does against the Alabama defense. Give me 27-13 Texas A&M.