Two teams hoping to finish atop the SEC West will meet on Saturday in the SEC’s CBS Game of the Week when Texas A&M hosts No. 11 Alabama in a matchup that also plays into the college football season. It has an impact on the post-game play. Both teams suffered unpleasant losses in non-conference games in Week 2 that lowered expectations, but they later regained their footing and set the stage for a showdown in Week 6.
With Jalen Milro back at quarterback, Alabama has defeated Mississippi State and Mississippi State in the past two weeks. The Tide’s defense has improved following a loss to Texas on Sept. 9 and a win over South Florida in Week 3. Texas A&M bounced back from a Week 2 loss in Miami with three straight double-digit wins over Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn and Arkansas. The Aggies won 34-22 last week, limiting Arkansas to 174 total yards and 10 first downs with quarterback Max Johnson filling in for the injured Conner Wegman Weigman made his first start of the season.
It’s always fun when Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher square off. In recent years, the two have often had quarrels. Fisher, who served as Saban’s offensive coordinator at LSU, is looking for a second win against his former boss. The past two games have been decided by seven points, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the scoreline in 2023 is similarly close.
How to watch Alabama vs. Texas A&M live
date: Saturday, October 7 | time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Place：Kyle Field-College Station, Texas
television: CBS | live: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Now Playing Paramount+ and Showtime (free trial)
Alabama vs. Texas A&M: Need to know
Kyle Stadium rematch: It was the first meeting between the two teams at Kyle Field since 2021, when the Aggies beat the top-ranked Crimson Tide 41-38 on Seth Small’s 28-yard field goal and Alabama lost for the first time as time expired The kick capped the final game for a Texas A&M team led by backup quarterback Zach Calzada against an unranked opponent since 2007. It was a fitting end to one of the most shocking upsets in college football in the post-COVID era. The result marked Fisher as the first former Saban assistant to defeat him.
Something to prove: Whichever quarterback wins should be validated. Milroe lost his starting job for a week in September before regaining it and leading the Crimson Tide to wins over Mississippi State and Mississippi State. In those wins, he completed 27 of 33 passes for 389 yards while also running for 97 yards and two touchdowns. A road win over the Aggies could change the national perception of what the Crimson Tide can accomplish under Milroe. For the Aggies, Johnson has been solid since replacing Wegman on Sept. 23 against Auburn. The redshirt sophomore is entering his fourth season and has made 18 starts between LSU and Texas A&M. But he never became a starter on a team in the SEC West title game. If he leads the Aggies to a win over Alabama, that will change.
Special teams superstars: Entering Week 6, only 18 starting kickers have yet to miss a field goal attempt, with Alabama’s Will Reichard leading that group with 11 points on 11 attempts Top of the list. Crimson Tide punter James Burnip also ranks fourth nationally in yards per punt at 48.9. Alabama’s net punt average is 44.27 yards, ranking sixth nationally. The Crimson Tide also intercepted a punt and a field goal to round out a solid special teams unit. Texas A&M countered with the explosive Aeneas Smith, who returned a kick for a touchdown last week against Arkansas.
Alabama vs. Texas A&M Predictions, Draft
Odds via SportsLine consensus
Those teams combined for just 44 points last season when Alabama beat Texas A&M 24-20. The Crimson Tide is still figuring out its offense with quarterback Jalen Milroe under first-year coordinator Tommy Rees, and Texas A&M’s defense held Arkansas to just one total. Code limit is 200 yards or less. Remember, too, that two of the Aggies’ four touchdowns against the Razorbacks came on interception returns and punt returns. These factors combine to make under a smart choice. Choice: Below 49.5
What college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 6? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all from a proven computer model that has returned nearly $2,500 in profits over the past seven seasons – and find out.
