Texas football vs. Alabama: Prediction and odds Week 2
In a couple of days, No. 11 Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will kick off their biggest non-conference game of the regular season against head coach Nick Saban and the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide. This could also be the most high-stakes non-conference game of the 2023 college football regular season.
Texas wants to avenge its close 20-19 loss to Alabama from when these two teams met at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the front end of this home-and-home series last season. Alabama knocked through a last-minute field goal to get the one-point win over Texas in Austin last year.
The Longhorns come into this matchup against the Tide with a record of 1-0 (0-0 Big 12) after a closer-than-expected 37-10 win at home on Sep. 2 over the Rice Owls. Texas was a 35.5-point favorite pre-game against Rice but had trouble getting the offense going in the first half.
Alabama comes into Week 2 with a record of 1-0 (0-0 SEC) after a convincing 56-7 win at home at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Sep. 2.
Here’s a look at the betting odds and game prediction as No. 11 Texas travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 3 Alabama under the lights at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sep. 9, with the kickoff time set for 6 p.m. CT.
Texas football vs. Alabama: Odds for Week 2 2023
Texas is a seven-point underdog against Alabama in this game, and the over/under is set at 54 points (per Caesers Sportsbook).
The spread has moved a half point in Texas’ favor since Alabama opened as a 7.5-point favorite over the Longhorns this week.
According to the ESPN matchup predictor, Alabama has an 80.9 percent chance of beating Texas.
Texas football vs. Alabama prediction
On paper, this looks like another very close matchup between Texas and Alabama. Saban and the Tide have the advantage of facing Texas at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Texas and Alabama’s defense have sizable edges on paper over each team’s offense on paper. Texas has a very formidable defensive front, led by the standout starting defensive line duo of redshirt senior T’Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy. The Longhorns’ secondary is stout, led by senior standouts Jahdae Barron, Jerrin Thompson, and Jalen Catalon.
Alabama’s defense, meanwhile, is one of the most talented units in the nation this season. Alabama has NFL talent all over the defensive two-deep, highlighted by sophomore defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis, junior linebacker/edge rusher Dallas Turner, and junior cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
The Tide gets the edge in this matchup since it comes at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That is enough to believe Alabama gets the three-point win when the clock hits zero.