College Football Picks: Miami vs Texas A&M Best Bets
In the second year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, Miami became the biggest beneficiary as the final at-large team to get the nod. Both teams get their first taste of the College Football Playoff, as the Hurricanes will have to travel to what will likely be one of the most raucous environments in College Football at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, on Saturday morning.
Though neither team has had a taste of a College Football Playoff environment, Miami quarterback Carson Beck is no stranger to these types of games. Beck was a member of three Georgia teams that made it to the CFP, including two national championship teams (2021 and 2022) as a backup, and last season, when he watched from the sideline after sustaining an injury in the SEC Championship Game. With little experience on both sides but everything on the line, expect fireworks in College Station, and we've got you covered with our best bets and a breakdown of the contest.
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Miami vs Texas A&M Betting Odds for the College Football Playoffs
Spread: Miami +3.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook); Texas A&M -3.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Total: Over 48.0 (Fanatics Sportsbook); Under 48.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Miami +140 (BetMGM); Texas A&M -154 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Miami vs Texas A&M Betting Picks for the College Football Playoffs
These teams took very different routes to finding themselves in the CFP. Miami opened up the season with a tough game against the then #6 Notre Dame. The Hurricanes would beat the Irish 27-24 and go on to win four more in a row on their way to sit at #2 in the country. Miami then lost a Friday night heart-breaker at home against Louisville 24-21. Two weeks later, the Hurricanes traveled to Dallas to face Southern Methodist, where they fell for the second time and, with little hope of playing for the ACC Championship, were all but written off from the CFP. Miami then rattled off four dominant wins to finish the season 10-2 and found themselves back on the Playoff bubble.
Texas A&M, on the other hand, rattled off 11-straight wins, including their own Week 3 win over Notre Dame. After their 11-game winning streak, the Aggies found themselves in Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, reigniting a storied rivalry with the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns put a stranglehold on the explosive A&M offense, beating them 27-17 as the Aggies finished the season 11-1 and were firmly in the CFP at this point.
The Hurricanes are anchored by a strong defense that ranks sixth in the nation in points per game, allowing an average of 13.8 on the year. Much of the Hurricanes' defensive success can be attributed to strong line play. Miami's defensive line is anchored by a pair of strong players in Akheem Mesidor, who leads the team with seven sacks, and Rueben Bain, who many scouts believe is the best edge defender in the nation. On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes are led by veteran quarterback Carson Beck. Beck has had a bit of an up-and-down season as he opened up the year with 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions through the first four games. Miami then took on Louisville, where Beck threw four interceptions in the loss and ultimately finished the year with 3,072 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Beck's top target on the season has been the ultra-dynamic freshman Malachi Toney. Toney so far not only has 84 receptions for 970 yards and seven touchdowns, but has also thrown for two touchdowns and run for one as well.
The Aggies have shown a strong defense and flashes of greatness from their offense throughout the season. The Aggies' offense has scored over 40 points six times this season and is led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed. Reed has thrown for 2,932 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as well as 466 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Reed has a duo of speedsters on the outside in KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. Concepcion leads the way with 57 receptions for 886 yards and nine touchdowns, while Craver is just behind with 52 receptions for 825 yards and five touchdowns. Much like the Hurricanes' defense, the Aggies are anchored by a strong defensive line with a top edge defender. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M's star edge defender, has also been in the discussion with Bain as the nation's top edge defender and leads the Aggies with 11.5 sacks.
Miami vs Texas A&M Expert Pick: Miami +3.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook) and Over 48.0 (Fanatics Sportsbook)
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Miami vs Texas A&M Predictions for the College Football Playoffs
Both teams here have shown flashes of greatness and at times were seen as one of the best teams in the nation. The Aggies had some shaky moments down the stretch while the Hurricanes dominated opponents. I expect this game to be a tight one, and I think Miami, especially at the current line sitting just above that key 3-point mark, could make all the difference here. While both defenses have been good, both offenses have also been very explosive this season. I would expect these teams to score, maybe not a ton, but I think the movement down from the opening line of 52.5 may have overshot.
Texas A&M 27, Miami 24
Miami vs Texas A&M Player Props for Saturday, December 20th
Marcel Reed Over 34.5 Rushing Yards (DraftKings Pick 6)
With a tough defensive line from Miami I would think the Aggies to try to get Reed out of the pocket to slow down their pass rushers. I would also expect some more scrambling from Reed due to the pass rush as well. Both of these should lead to Reed over 34.5 rushing yards
