Your look at the Alabama vs. Texas game on the Week 2 college football schedule
A much-anticipated matchup between traditional college football powers Alabama and Texas is set for this Saturday from Austin.
When these two last met, it was for the national championship after the 2009 season, but since then the programs have gone in different directions.
Alabama became the dynasty of the 21st century, if not for all time, winning five more titles, while Texas has bounced around from one coach to another, hoping to find some stability.
Enter Steve Sarkisian: the former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator who helped Bama to the CFP title in 2020 now heads the Longhorn program with a mandate to get Texas "back" to the national stage.
Here's what you need to know about the Week 2 matchup. Alabama vs. Texas football preview, prediction How to watch When: Sat., Sept. 10 Time: 12 p.m. Eastern TV: Fox Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Alabama vs. Texas odds, spread, line Line: Alabama -20 O/U: 65 Moneyline: ALA -1786 TEX +800 FPI pick: Alabama 81.8%
Alabama vs. Texas: Fast Facts + Texas is 5-11 all-time against No. 1 ranked teams and is 2-2 in the last 4
+ Alabama scored on its first 9 possessions in the opener and on all 8 drives with every starter in + Bijan Robinson has 27 plays of 20-plus yards and 6 of 50 or more
+ Tide receivers totaled 100-plus yards in the first half of 18 of the last 42 games + Texas is 1-7 when allowing 30-plus points under Sarkisian
+ Alabama has scored 40-plus points in 41 of the last 57 games (71.9% of the time) leading the nation + Xavier Worthy set Texas freshman records in '21 with 62 catches, 981 yards, and 12 TDs
+ Alabama has won 48 of its last 49 games when scoring a TD on the opening drive + Texas is 6-3 when leading after the 3rd quarter under Sarkisian and is 0-4 when trailing after the 3rd
+ Will Anderson led college football with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 TFLs a year ago, and leads a Tide defense that returns 7 starters + Texas is 4-0 when it wins the time of possession under Sarkisian and 2-7 when it loses TOP
+ Alabama is 163-9 under Saban when leading at the half and 147-4 when leading by 7 or more at the break
What happens? Yes, Texas will get a few long gainers out of the Tide defense. How could they not, with all-world talent like Robinson and Worthy carrying the ball?
But the Longhorns will have to keep coming, because Alabama will not stop.
Saban's offense will make fewer mistakes, connect on the small and medium gains that make up consistent drives, and be more efficient overall.
Texas will get a highlight or two, but doesn't have the manpower right now to go snap for snap with Alabama's athletes.
You can't just have a big play or two to win matchups like this. Slow and steady wins these games, and for the last 15 years, the Tide has shown the discipline to do that again and again. And again.
College Football HQ Prediction: Alabama 42, Texas 20
College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan 5. Clemson
College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 6. Texas A&M 7. Oklahoma 8.Notre Dame 9. Baylor 10. USC
College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 11. Oklahoma State 12. Florida 13. Utah 14. Michigan State 15. Miami
College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 16. Arkansas 17. Pittsburgh 18. NC State 19. Wisconsin 20. Kentucky
College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 21. BYU 22. Ole Miss 23. Wake Forest 24. Tennessee 25. Houston