Miami vs. Texas A&M Prediction, Odds & Picks: Back the Aggies to Exploit the Hurricanes Struggles in Coverage

• Texas A&M was +5000 to win the National Championship in the preseason

• The Aggies wide receiver K.C. Concepcion won the Paul Hornung award

• The Miami Hurricanes defense ranks below league average in Def Pass Explosiveness

After being listed lower than Notre Dame in the last few editions of the College Football Playoff rankings, the committee decided to reward the Hurricanes for their win over the Fighting Irish earlier in the year by swapping the two at the last second. Unfortunately for Miami, they face off against Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed in the first round of the playoffs who is capable of picking apart their gaps in coverage.

Miami vs. Texas A&M Odds

Odds for the Miami vs. Texas A&M game are taken from BetMGM Sportsbook. Join BetMGM today with our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim your welcome offer: Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*. Find more info in our detailed BetMGM Sportsbook review.

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Miami vs. Texas A&M: My Pick

• My pick: Texas A&M Moneyline (-165) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Since the start of the regular season, Marcel Reed has built a case for being one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC as the Texas A&M signal caller finished the year ranked top-5 in Quarterback EPA per Play. His success under center helped turn the Aggies into a formidable unit as their offense heads into the playoffs ranked near the top of the board in Pass Play Explosiveness and in Havoc Allowed.

Even with Miami’s defensive back Keionte Scott making his return from injury, any form of rust will be detrimental as he will be assigned to K.C. Concepcion who possesses blistering fast speed. With the Hurricanes having to shade their coverage towards the star receiver, wider passing lanes will open up for Reed to take advantage of which increases the Aggies chances of moving the ball down the field.

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Miami vs. Texas A&M Prediction

Miami Preview

After sputtering in his final year with Georgia, Carson Beck revived his career in Miami as the Hurricanes quarterback finished the year throwing for 3,072 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 74.7% of his passes. With Beck running the offense, the Hurricanes were one of the most productive offenses in the Red Zone as the Hurricanes rank above league average in Points per Opportunity and in PPA.

While the Hurricanes offense thrived, their defense steadily regressed throughout the year. Especially in regard to defending against the pass as the Hurricanes limp into Saturday ranked in the bottom half of the board in Def Pass Explosiveness. Their lack of coverage forces their linebackers to sag away from the middle which creates higher quality rushing lanes for opposing running backs to exploit.

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Texas A&M Preview

As previously mentioned, the Aggies pass attack have been efficient as the connection of Marcel Reed to KC Concepcion terrorized opposing secondaries on a weekly basis. When in the open field, Concepcion generated explosive plays at a high rate as the Paul Hornung award winner averaged 15.5 Yards per Reception and nearly one receiving touchdown per game.

On the other side of the field, the Aggies front seven excelled at collapsing the pocket as their defense ranks well above league average in Def Success Rate and in Havoc. With the Aggies forcing Beck out of the pocket shortly after the snap, their secondary will be able to stay on the Hurricanes pass catcher's hips for the full duration of their routes which increases their chances of creating a disruption.

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Miami vs. Texas A&M: Best Promos and Sportsbooks

All of the best online sportsbooks are offering a variety of betting markets for the Miami vs. Texas A&M College Football Playoff showdown.

While the odds might be similar, each sportsbook will have its differences. Cross-reference across multiple sportsbooks to find the best odds for your bet of choice.

Find more info in our table below.

*21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

Miami vs. Texas A&M Injury Report

Miami

• Damari Brown (DB) - Questionable (undisclosed)

• Keionte Scott (DB) - Probable (lower body)

• Daylyn Upshaw (WR) - Doubtful (undisclosed)

• Malik Bryant (LB) - Out (undisclosed)

Texas A&M

• Le’Veon Moss (RB) - Questionable (ankle)

• Scooby Williams (LB) - Probable (lower body)

• Bryce Anderson (S) - Probable (head)

How to Watch Miami vs. Texas A&M

• When: Saturday, December 20th

• Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas

• How to Watch: ABC