Texas A&M vs. Miami football game prediction, preview: Who wins, and why?
This weekend brings us a notable non-conference matchup between the SEC and the ACC as No. 23 ranked Texas A&M goes on the road against Miami in college football's Week 2 game action on Saturday.
One year ago, the Hurricanes played this game in College Station, with the Aggies pulling out the close 17-9 victory on home turf, but neither side was able to make much out of it, as each team finished with 5-7 overall records.
What can we make of this matchup? Here's what you need to know when Texas A&M and Miami face off on Saturday along with our Week 2 game predictions.
Texas A&M vs. Miami prediction, preview
Miami vs. Texas A&M
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How to watch
When: Sat., Sept. 9
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ABC network
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Related: College football Week 2 picks against the spread
Texas A&M vs. Miami odds
Courtesy of SI Sportsbook
Line: Texas A&M -3.5
Total: 51.5 points
Moneyline: A&M -167 | MIA +130
FPI pick: Miami 55.9%
Related: Texas A&M vs. Miami picks, predictions, Week 2 college football odds, lines
What to watch for
Texas A&M vs. Miami predictions
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1. Ags' deep game vs. Miami's secondary. Good luck to the A&M offense when it tries to move the ball in the air in the deeper third of the field, especially against a pair of back end defenders who will be one of the best duos it goes against all year. The likes of Kamren Kinchens and James Williams will close down throwing lanes, disrupt patterns, and bat the ball out of the air against the Aggies' skilled receivers. But on those rare occasions opponents get behind the secondary, they're able to do some damage: Miami allowed 15 passes of 40-plus yards a year ago, the most.
2. A&M up front. The Aggies bring in one of college football's biggest and most aggressive defensive front seven units and will present a massive challenge to Miami's ability to run the football with consistent success. The unit struggled at times against the run a year ago, but with a year of experience under its belt, the early returns have been positive, and it has explosive potential off the snap to clog gaps on the interior, in what Mario Cristobal called one of the biggest pressure points in the game.
3. Weigman & Co. So far, so good on the Aggie offense with Bobby Petrino at the helm calling plays in quarterback Conner Weigman's ear. The quarterback was productive and economical in the opener, completing just 18 passes but 5 of them went for touchdowns and he covered 236 yards in the air. He's looking for Evan Stewart, who scored twice in Week 1; Noah Thomas, who was in the end zone three times; and Ainias Smith, a speedster who can get major yards after the catch.
Texas A&M vs. Miami prediction
Mark Fletcher and Robert Parrish will find some running lanes on the outside and get some intermediate gains catching passes from the backfield, spreading out the Aggies' coverage enough so Canes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will find adequately throwing lanes against the A&M secondary.
But the strength of the Aggies' fortification at the line of scrimmage and the combinations Weigman should be able to exploit with a trio of reliable targets in space are tough to beat. Plus two other numbers stick out: Miami is 2-10 against the spread in the last dozen overall and 1-6 ATS in its last 7 at home.
College Football HQ picks...
- Texas A&M wins 33-24
- Covers the spread
- And hits the over
Related: Texas A&M vs. Miami score prediction by college football computer
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