Texas A&M (4-3, 1-3 SEC) head to Tuscaloosa to face No. 13 Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC) for the first time since the 2022 season, looking to pull off what would be a monumental upset, especially after last Saturday's string of upsets in SEC play after Texas, Georgia, and Alabama lost on the same weekend.
The Aggies have been on quite the roller coaster during coach Mike Elko's third season at the helm, sitting at 1-3 in SEC play, as the offense, outside of three games, has been dreadful, failing to score touchdowns in road losses to LSU and Missouri, primarily due to starting quarterback Marcel Reed's regression as a passer after throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
Alabama last lost back-to-back games to Georgia and Tennessee and looks to make a statement against the Aggies, who are coming off a 41-0 shutout win over The Citadel in Week 7. Marcel Reed is expected to make his eighth start of the season, while backup QB Brady Hart is waiting in the wings.
Texas A&M entered the week as a 15.5-point underdog, now down to a 14-point spread. While expected, it's notable that sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell hasn't passed for at least 200 yards since defeating Mississippi State on the road.
If Texas A&M's 10th-ranked pass defense holds up, the Aggie pass rush should pressure the pocket, as Alabama's offensive line allows three sacks per game, ranked 129th nationally. Before Saturday, ESPN FPI gives Texas A&M a 16.1% chance to defeat the Crimson Tide (83.9%).
Texas A&M will face Alabama on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and the game will air on ABC.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Updated ESPN FPI prediction for Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Alabama