Texas football opens as one-score underdogs vs. Alabama in Week 2

Game week is almost upon us for the massive Week 2 non-conference showdown between No. 11 Texas football and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian will duke it out with legendary head coach Nick Saban and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa under the lights on Sep. 9, with the kickoff time set for 6 p.m. CT.

The Week 2 matchup between Texas and Alabama is the back end of a home-and-home series that started at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin last season. Texas fell one point shy of Alabama in a close battle at DKR last year.

This year, Texas comes into the Alabama game sporting a record of 1-0 (0-0 Big 12) after a closer-than-expected 37-10 win over the Rice Owls at home at DKR in the regular season opener on Sep. 2. Sark and the Longhorns were a five-score favorite heading into the opener. But a slow start on offense in the first half limited the points Texas could put up on Rice this weekend.

Meanwhile, Alabama comes into Week 2 with a record of 1-0 (0-0 SEC) after a dominant 56-7 win at home in Tuscaloosa on Sep. 2 over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Tide didn’t look back after cruising to a 28-0 shutout lead at halftime against Mid Tennessee.

Here’s a look at the opening betting odds for the top-15 matchup between No. 11 Texas and No. 4 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Sep. 9 at 6 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. Alabama: Opening odds for Week 2

Texas opens up as a 7.5-point underdog against Alabama in this game (per Caesers Sportsbook). The over/under is set at 56.5 points.

According to the ESPN Football Power Index, Alabama has an 80.9 percent chance of beating Texas in this game.

In Week 1, Texas didn’t cover the spread as a 35.5-point favorite pre-game against Rice. The Longhorns and Owls also covered the under (59 points pre-game) this weekend.

Alabama covered the spread as a 39.5-point favorite against Middle Tennessee. Alabama and Middle Tennessee also hit the over (52 points pre-game).