Texas A&M vs. Alabama Prediction, CFB Week 8 Odds & Best Bets (10/24)

Fact checked at 7:07 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

Odds as of 7:05 AM ET, Oct 24, 2026

No. 13 Alabama (5-2) has lost two straight, 20-17 at home to Georgia and 26-10 at Tennessee. Texas A&M (4-3) has split its last four. The Aggies beat Arkansas 34-7 and The Citadel 41-0 at home and lost 35-6 at LSU and 27-6 at Missouri without scoring a touchdown in either road game. Marcel Reed is expected to make his eighth start at quarterback for A&M, and Keelon Russell has been Alabama's quarterback all season. Kickoff is Saturday at 3:30 PM ET at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, and the forecast is sunny, mid-70s, with a light east wind.

Alabama is a 13.5-point favorite and the total is 50.5. The Crimson Tide reopened the week at 15.5 after last weekend's games, so the number has come down a little.

Our read: Alabama wins this on the ground. Missouri ran for 247 yards on Texas A&M and LSU for 194, and Russell has run for a score in five of Alabama's seven games. The Aggies haven't shown they can throw their way back into a road game, so they'll keep handing off, and an Alabama front missing four players leaves room for KJ Edwards to reach a modest number. Both picks cash in that game.

Texas A&M vs. Alabama Predictions

• Pick #1: Keelon Russell Anytime Touchdown (-130)
• Pick #2: KJ Edwards 15+ Rushing Yards (-166)

PICK #1: Keelon Russell Anytime Touchdown (-130)

Russell has run for a touchdown in five of Alabama's seven games: East Carolina, Florida State, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Tennessee. Kentucky and Georgia are the only misses. That's 71% of his games, against a price that implies 56.5%.

He gets real carries, too. He ran 13 times against East Carolina, eight against South Carolina and 11 at Tennessee. In Knoxville, Alabama managed 10 points and 54 rushing yards, and Russell finished with 6 yards on his 11 carries after five sacks. His 19-yard run was still the Tide's only touchdown.

Alabama is thinner around him this week. EJ Crowell, who has four rushing touchdowns, was downgraded to doubtful on Friday night's SEC availability report, as was starting center Racin Delgatty. A&M's run defense invites Alabama to stay on the ground anyway: Missouri ran for 247 yards against it, LSU for 194 and Kentucky for 156.

Only Russell's own touchdowns count. A touchdown pass does nothing for this bet, and Trae'shawn Brown, who scored twice at Mississippi State, or Daniel Hill can finish drives instead. Alabama has also scored just 17 and 10 points in its last two games, and fewer trips inside the 10 mean fewer chances.

PICK #2: KJ Edwards 15+ Rushing Yards (-166)

Look at A&M's two road losses. The Aggies scored six points at LSU and six at Missouri, and Edwards still got 21 yards on four carries in Baton Rouge and 20 on six in Columbia. A blowout didn't stop him from clearing this number.

He has reached 15 in all seven of A&M's games and all five against FBS teams: 22 yards on three carries against Arizona State, 28 on five against Kentucky, 21 at LSU, 66 on 11 against Arkansas and 20 at Missouri. He's at 317 yards on 47 carries for the season, 6.7 a carry, so four or five touches usually gets him there.

Alabama's run defense has given ground lately. Georgia ran for 206 yards and Tennessee for 150, and the Tide are without linebackers Desmond Umeozulu and Cayden Jones and defensive linemen Jeremiah Beaman and Terrance Green, all ruled out on Friday's report. The -166 price implies 62.4%, a fair ask for a back who hasn't missed this number all season.

Volume is the worry. Edwards splits carries with Rueben Owens II, Jamarion Morrow and Carsyn Baker, and he got only three against Arizona State and four at LSU. If A&M falls behind early and gives up on the run, he could come up short.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.