Miami and Texas A&M, two programs that spent a majority of the season in the Top 10 of the AP Poll, square off with a berth in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on the line. The first round game in the 12-team College Football playoff kicks off The Miami-Texas A&M first round CFP game kicks off Saturday at Noon ET on ESPN/ABC in College Station, Texas.
Miami (10-2) started the season 5-0, defeating three ranked teams, including sixth-ranked Notre Dame, which, according to the CFP Selection Committee, was one of the deciding factors in earning the bid. Miami dropped two of the next three games, to Louisville and SMU, before winning the final four, outscoring their opponents 151-41.
Texas A&M (11-1) won its first 11 outings of the season to rise to No. 3 in the AP Poll. This included a win over a ranked Notre Dame team, as well as dubs over LSU and Missouri in back-to-back weeks. The Aggies lost their chance at the SEC title and first round bye after losing to 16th-ranked Texas, 27-17 in the final game of the regular season.
The Miami-Texas A&M first round CFP game kicks off Saturday at Noon ET on ESPN/ABC. The winner moves on to play second-ranked Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on December 31st.
Below, we'll break down our Miami vs. Texas A&M spread or over/under pick on PrizePicks' real money CFB game.
Miami vs. Texas A&M Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The Hurricanes and Aggies meet for the sixth time in their school’s history, with Miami holding a 3-2 series edge. More recently, the two teams played a home-and-home with A&M winning in College Station in 2022 and Miami winning at home in 2023.
Miami vs. Texas A&M Over/Under, Spread
The seventh-ranked Aggies enter the first round CFP game 3.5-point home favorites, returning a 1.56x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win.
The tenth-ranked Hurricanes are the road underdog, with a 2.32x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Texas A&M -3.5
- Total: 48.5
- Game Winner Payout: Texas A&M 1.56x | Miami 2.32x
Miami vs. Texas A&M Prediction on Spread
Miami Hurricanes Preview
The Hurricanes have covered the spread in seven of 12 games this season. Miami covered in four of the first five games and have not covered in four of the last seven. Of the 12 games, the Hurricanes were an underdog just once, in the season opener vs. Notre Dame, where the 'Canes won outright as a 2.5-point underdog.
In four seasons under Head Coach Mario Cristobal, Miami has been an underdog in 11 games, covering five. They were not an underdog in any of their 2024 outings.
Miami brings in the 27th-ranked offense (425.8 yards per game) and 20th-ranked scoring offense, scoring 34.1 points per contest. The Hurricanes racked up 34+ points in each of their last four tilts to end the regular season and in seven of the 12 overall.
The offense is led by Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck, whose 165.3 passer rating is eighth-best in the country. Freshman WR Malachi Toney paced the Hurricanes with 970 yards and 7 TDs.
On the defensive side, the Canes have the third-best scoring defense, holding teams to 13.8 PPG and allowing more than 20 points only three times this season. Miami is particularly strong at stopping the run, ranked seventh, holding opponents to 86.8 rush yards a game.
Miami enters the contest 1-0 vs. SEC teams this season, beating Florida, 26-7 in September.
Texas A&M Preview
The Aggies failed to cover in seven of their 12 games this season, including none of the last three games. Last year, in Head Coach Mike Elko’s first year, the Aggies were 3-10 to the spread. The 8-17 record against the spread over the last two seasons is seventh-worst in the country and fifth-worst among Power 4 schools. The Aggies were the favorite in all but two of those games, going 7-16 as the listed favorite.
Texas A&M enters the playoff game with the 14th-best scoring offense, averaging 36.3 points per game and 20th-best total offense, averaging 454.4 yards per game. The Aggies are balanced, with 25th-ranked rushing offense and 32nd passing offense. They’ve scored 30+ points in all but two games this season. QB Marcel Reed has thrown for 25 TDs and rushed for 6 TDs.
On defense, A&M allows 309.8 yards per game (19th in nation) and 21.9 points per game (41st).
Make Miami vs. Texas A&M Predictions on PrizePicks
Can Miami silence the doubters and upset A&M on their home field? Or will the Aggies rebound from their lone loss of the season and advance to the quarterfinals? The winner moves on to the Cotton Bowl for a date with second-ranked and defending national champion Ohio State.
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