Texas A&M is 6-0 ATS vs Non-SEC Teams Under Jimbo Fisher; Currently 17 Point Underdog at Clemson
- Texas A&M beat Texas State 41-7 in College Station in Week 1
- Clemson pounded Georgia Tech 52-14 in Week 1
- Clemson beat Texas A&M 28-26 last season, but the Aggies covered the 12.5-point spread
The #12 Texas A&M Aggies will march into Death Valley trying to make a statement against #1 Clemson Tigers on Saturday afternoon (Sep. 7). Both teams won their Week 1 games handily, but this will be a tougher test for both sides.
The Aggies come into this one as a 17-point underdog in their matchup with the Tigers. Texas A&M covered the spread last year at Kyle Field, but the Aggies only had to deal with Clemson’s star quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, for nine passes. With a National Championship now under his belt, Lawrence is coming into this matchup against A&M with more experience than ever.
Texas A&M vs Clemson Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | +17 (-115) | +500 | O 64.5 (-110) |
| Clemson | -17 (-105) | -800 | U 64.5 (-110) |
*Odds collected 09/06/2019
The Story Behind the Final Score
Clemson took down Texas A&M in the second game of last season 28-26 in a hostile environment in Aggie Land.
However, the final score did not tell the entire story. The Aggies had more total yards, more passing yards, more first downs, and dominated time of possession. SEC teams are tenacious and hard to beat; look at what happened to Oregon last week against Auburn.
Clemson’s Powerful Offense
Lawrence was not all the impressive last week against Georgia Tech. The sophomore threw for 168 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while also rushing for 24 yards and one score on the ground.
Running back Travis Etienne made up for the lackluster passing game as he rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries. The Tigers still managed to put up 628 yards of total offense, while holding the Yellow Jackets to 294 yards.
While Clemson has two great receivers in Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, they should be getting some added help this week as Amari Rodgers is expected to return after suffering from an ACL tear six months ago. Rodgers had 55 catches, 575 yards, and four touchdowns last season with the Tigers.
Clemson was not reliable ATS versus non-ACC opponents last regular season. The Tigers failed to cover the spread in all three regular season meetings against non-ACC foes. Clemson failed to cover a 12.5-point spread against Texas A&M, a 32-point spread against Georgia Southern, and the 26-point spread against South Carolina.
Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers are going to have be airtight on Saturday to cover this 17-point spread against a Texas A&M team that should not be taken lightly.
Texas A&M WR Jhamon Ausbon guarantees victory vs. #1 Clemson this Saturday in Death Valley.
“We’re not coming out with a loss in the game.”
pic.twitter.com/Rv7ou7ZRyD— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) September 5, 2019
Kellen Mond is the X-Factor
Kellen Mond could be one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks in college football. The San Antonio native showed us that last week throwing for 194 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, while also rushing for 25 yards and a score. The Aggies running game was hot against Texas State as both Jashaun Corbin and Isaiah Spiller eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground.
It is reassuring for the Aggies that they held the Bobcats to just eight rushing yards last week, as they are going up against arguably the best running back in the country. Texas A&M held Clemson to just over 100 yards rushing last year, which is an accomplishment with how well the Tigers have been able to run the ball.
According to VegasInsider.com, Texas A&M was 3-1 ATS as an underdog last season. Including last week’s cover against Texas State, the Aggies are now 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games. The only teams they failed to cover against last season were Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Auburn.
Jimbo over Dabo on Saturday
Before heading over to coach at Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher used to matchup against Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers once a year while coaching Florida State. In terms of covering the spread, Jimbo has the edge over Swinney covering four of the last six meetings between the two coaches. Not to mention, Jimbo has a flawless record against non-SEC teams against the spread.
The Aggies are the better pick for Saturday. Although Clemson will likely win the game outright, Texas A&M and Kellen Mond will be able to keep it close and compete. Even before Jimbo Fisher came to College Station, the Aggies have always performed against non-SEC teams. In the past three seasons, Texas A&M is 8-1 ATS in non-conference games. As long as the Aggies defense can limit the damage from the Clemson offense for three quarters, they will be able to cover the spreads they have in the past against the Tigers.
With 5+ years of sports journalism under his belt, Ryan Sura may be young, but he's already making his mark. Ryan is the lead NHL editor at SBD, along with managing content for MMA, Boxing, and Racing. He is also the commercial manager, highlighting the best promos at online sportsbooks across US.
