- What: Alabama vs Texas
- When: Saturday, September 10th at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, 12 PM ET kick-off
- How to watch: FOX Sports
Online college football betting is in full swing now, with Week 2 quickly approaching. In one of the most intriguing matchups in the nation, the Alabama Crimson Tide heads to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12 PM ET. Both teams started off their seasons with victories, with Bama beating Utah State 55-0 last weekend, while the Longhorns took down Louisiana-Monroe, 52-10. While these two programs are extremely well known in the sport, they haven't actually met since the 2009 National Championship, where Bama won 37-21. A lot has changed since then, with Nick Saban's squad the ultimate CFB powerhouse, and Texas, on the other hand, is trying to find their brilliance again under a new head coach in Steve Sarkisian, the former offensive coordinator for Bama. Read on for the Alabama vs Texas odds.
Before we get into the betting preview, lines, and predictions, make sure to check out our reviews of the top online sportsbooks.
Alabama vs Texas Odds
Alabama vs Texas Betting Preview
The Crimson Tide is one of the favorites in the 2022-23 NCAA Football National Championship futures which is honestly no surprise. Bryce Young, their quarterback, won a Heisman last season and is a legitimate candidate to do so again in his final college campaign before heading to the NFL. Young had a field day against Utah State as well, starting off his season with a bang. The signal-caller completed 18 of 28 passes for 195 yards while throwing for five touchdowns. On the ground, he also killed the Aggies, rushing for 100 yards on just five carries, also finding the end zone once with his legs. Although Utah State is by no means a tough opponent, Young put his brilliance on full display.
The entire receiving corps got in on the action as well, with seven different targets collecting at least two catches. Traeshon Holden was the standout target for Young, grabbing five receptions for 70 yards and two TDs. The offense was extremely impressive there is no question about it, but the defense also showed out. Will Anderson, another Heisman frontrunner, had three tackles in the win and imposed his will at linebacker. The sheer athleticism of this defensive unit was too much for Utah State but they're going to be tested a lot more on Saturday. Quinn Ewers is low on experience at QB, but running back Bijan Robinson and WR Xavier Worthy are capable of doing damage. Bama's defense must bring their best again in the Alabama vs Texas odds.
With a new HC, Texas is expected to be a lot better this year. But, Bama is still a very tall task for them. After all, the Longhorns aren't even ranked in the top 25. Texas finished with a 5-7 record overall in 2021 and 3-6 in conference play, but their Week 1 win should give them confidence. As mentioned, they have some intriguing offensive weapons around Ewers. Robinson is not only capable of picking apart defenses on the ground, but he's a Deebo Samuel-type weapon who can also kill you downfield. The production of these various players comes down to how well the offensive line plays, though. Bama is so talented defensively and if they're able to break down the O-line early, this game will get out of hand for Texas.
Robinson kicked off the campaign in fine fahsion, rushing for 71 yards on 10 carries in Austin against UL-Monroe, collecting a touchdown on the ground and in the air. Ewers looked pretty solid in his season debut, completing 16 of 24 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown. He was picked off once, too. The talent is there to make a bit of noise on Saturday in front of the Longhorns faithful. But with seven starters having returned to Alabama's defense, beating the powerhouse Tide feels like a pipe dream.
Final Pick
The Alabama vs Texas odds heavily favor the visitors with a wide 19.5-point spread. Sure, the Longhorns will put up some points, but it's not going to be enough to come even close to Saban's group. They're just so fundamentally sound in every single area. Out wide? Dominant. Quarterback? Heisman winner. Defense? Led by Will Anderson, the scariest defensive player in the country and projected number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Texas just doesn't have enough to give Bama a run for their money.
I expect the Crimson Tide to cruise to victory and cover the spread. Another big victory is on the horizon.
