The Alabama Crimson Tide demolished a top-10 team last week in a game against Tennessee, and now turns around to face another one in Week 8. Alabama has looked like the best team in the country throughout the year and will get another step closer to the College Football Playoff with a win.
The Aggies are a tougher opponent, though, and the Crimson Tide must respect them. Both teams are undefeated, but Alabama is a sizable favorite at home. Here is the reasoning from the oddsmakers at BookMaker:
“It’s one of the largest spreads we’ve had for a top-10 matchup between two undefeated, power conference schools. But this is the best Alabama team we’ve ever seen. Bettors don’t want anything to do with backing the Tide’s opponents. We’ve inflated their spreads for the last month, begging for underdog action, and we can’t entice anyone.”
Watch this regular season Week 8 matchup live on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas A&M +16.5
Alabama -16.5
Odds Analysis
Finally, it seems, the spread is high enough to get some action on Alabama’s opponent. While it’s only some early action, more than 58 percent of the money is coming in on Texas A&M to cover this spread.
The line is high in order to even out the money, and it sure seems like a favorable number for those backing a talented Texas A&M squad.
Key Stat
265. Both teams average more than that number on the ground per game. Texas A&M is rolling up 274.3 yards per game rushing while the Crimson Tide gets 265.7.
While the Aggies would love to come anywhere close to that, it will be a significant challenge to even break 150. The Alabama defensive line lost a lot of talent to the NFL draft last season but continues to dominate up front, which has been a common theme under Nick Saban.
Alabama is only allowing 63.9 yards per game on the ground, which is an unbelievably impressive number in a college football world where scores continue to go up.
Texas A&M is allowing 159.3 yards per game on the ground and must hold up against the Crimson Tide or else it will be in trouble. Alabama running back Damien Harris has 69 carries for 572 yards with a touchdown to lead the way.
Texas A&M’s top running back is Trayveon Williams. He has 82 carries for 704 yards and five touchdowns.
Player to Watch
Calvin Ridley - In a game full of stars, Calvin Ridley might be the best among them. The Alabama wide receiver has 39 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns on the season, but those numbers don’t completely depict how good he is.
Ridley has a pair of 100-yard receiving days on the season, but Alabama has won by blowout so often that the team hasn’t needed to pass in many second halves.
If this one stays close, Ridley could put up huge numbers against the Aggies.
Free ATS Pick
Alabama defeated Tennessee 49-10 last time out and has won all seven of its games by double digits outside of a five-point win over Ole Miss. That was the only team to really challenge the Crimson Tide, but Texas A&M hopes to join that group.
The Aggies are 7-0 and boast wins over UCLA, Arkansas and Tennessee themselves, so they have the confidence to hang in this one. It’s tough sledding going on the road, and it’s hard to envision a scenario where the Crimson Tide loses this game.
However, Texas A&M is certainly good enough to keep it close. The spread is too high and the easy call is for the Aggies to cover even though Alabama stays undefeated and No. 1 in the rankings with the win.
College Football Odds: Alabama 30, Texas A&M 20
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