Rogers' *10* SEC GAME OF THE MONTH >> Last Week's Top Ticket Won 48-17!
(NCAAF) Texas A&M vs. Alabama,
Point Spread: 18.50 | -115.00 Texas A&M (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Alabama took apart Tennessee in Knoxville 49-10 last Saturday, outgaining the Vols 594-163 in yards, while rushing for 438 yards. The Tide added a 58-yard ‘pick-6' and a 79-yard punt return TD, giving them 11 non-offensive TDs in 2016. Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has developed into star, accounting for 17 TDs (nine passing, eight rushing) while passing for 1,385 yards and rushing for 428. Alabama takes the nation's longest active winning streak (19 in row) into a home game against a surprising Texas A&M on Saturday. The Aggies began the season unranked but after a 6-0 start, come into this showdown against the nation's No.1-ranked team at No. 6 in the latest AP poll.

Texas A&M: The Aggies lead the SEC in total offense (532.8 yards per game / that ranks 8th nationally) and rushing offense (274.3 / that ranks 7th nationally). Freshman RB Trayveon Williams (SEC-leading 704 rushing yards, five TDs) averages an amazing 8.6 YPC while senior QB Travis Knight (a former Sooner) has been effective as both a runner (502 yards, nine scores) and a passer (1,500 yards, nine TDs). Knight only completes 53.5% but he has sure been effective, as A&M is averaging 40.2 PPG (18th), almost two full TDs more than last year's 27.8 average. The defense allows more yards (437.45 YPG) than coach Kevin Sumlin would like but the bottom line is A&M is allowing just 19.2 PPG (22nd).

Alabama: Nick Saban has been devastating the SEC since arriving in Tuscaloosa 10 year ago and it would be impossible to find much wrong with this year's edition. I talked about Hurts earlier but also note that RB Damien Harris has run for a team-leading 572 yards on 8.3 YPC, as Alabama averages 265.7 YPG on the ground (10), balanced by the team's 239.0 YPG average through the air. The Tide "D" allows 15.0 PPG (8th) on 274.7 YPG (5th), including 64.6 YPG on the ground (1st).

The pick: Alabama seeks its 12th straight victory over a ranked opponent and this marks its third ranked opponent in three weeks and fifth already this season. However, while Alabama is 29-2 SU at home since the start of the 2012 season, it is only 15-16 ATS in that span. I noted earlier that while A&M is giving up almost 450 yard per game, it's allowing less than 20 points per game. That's partly (primarily?) due to a defense which has seven interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries on the season. Upset alert? Maybe not but the points are YUGE! Take them and make Texas A&M a 10* play.