College football’s highest-ranked match-up this week is a preview of SEC rivalry games to come when No. 3 Alabama hosts No. 11 Texas Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

These teams met for a dandy of a game last year, a one-point Tide victory in Austin. Can the Longhorns pull the upset this time? And which way are we going with our free Texas/Alabama pick?

NCAAF Betting Odds

The college football betting market opened Alabama as a seven-point favorite over Texas, with an over/under of right around 55. Early betting action then tipped the Tide to -7.5 and dipped that total to 54.

Texas Betting Preview

The Longhorns opened this new college football season with a 37-10 home victory over Rice last Saturday. Texas, favored by 35 points, actually spotted the Owls the first three points of the game but took the lead on the next drive and led 16-3 at the half. The ‘Horns then scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to get within a whisper of that spread but took their foot off the gas in the fourth, settling for the win but eschewing the cover.

Texas out-gained Rice 458-176 and won the turnover battle 3-0.

The Longhorns returned 16 starters this season, ten on offense, including the entire offensive line, and six on defense, from a team that played 8-5 last season. So expectations are high. Texas is also lined as the favorite to win the Big 12 this season at +110.

Alabama Betting Preview

The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, opened their season with a 56-7 waltz over Middle Tennessee State last Saturday. Alabama, favored by 39 points, scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the game and led 28-0 at the half. ‘Bama then scored TDs on its first two possessions of the second half and eased home from there for the win the money.

The Tide out-gained the Blue Raiders 432-211 and won the turnover battle 2-0.

Alabama only returned ten starters this season, five on each side of the ball, from a team that played 11-2 last year. But the Tide were actually only six points from perfection last year, and as we all know, this program just plugs big talent in when starters leave for the pros.

Alabama is lined as the second favorite on the SEC championship betting board at +260, behind only Georgia at -110.

Texas-Alabama Recent History

These longtime football blue bloods, who have only met ten times before, just met back in Week 2 of last season, a 20-19 Tide victory in Austin. Alabama led that game early, 10-3, trailed 19-17 late, then drove to a game-winning field goal with 10 seconds left. But ‘Bama never came close to covering the spread as a 21-point favorite.

Alabama out-gained Texas that day, only 374-371, and the Longhorns won first downs 25-16. Tide QB Bryce Young worked some Heisman magic on the game-winning drive, but he’s playing on Sundays now.

Also, that game played way under a total of 64, as the team combined to score just three touchdowns.

College Football Betting Trends

Alabama is 3-1 ATS in its last four games favored by single-digits.

Texas is 1-4 ATS in its last five games as an underdog.

The Big 12 is 5-5 SU, 6-4 ATS vs. the SEC over the last two seasons.

Totals Report

The Texas game against Rice last week played under a total of 59.

The Alabama game against Middle Tennessee last week played over a total of 52, as the Tide played over by themselves.