Happy College Football Playoff Eve, Miami fans. Well, eve for the Canes. Alabama and Oklahoma get this party started tonight.
As we’re finally up near game day, the picks have finally come in. So, let’s
see who the supposed experts are picking to prevail on Saturday afternoon in College Station.
- ESPN’s Rece Davis: Miami
- ESPN’s Dan Wetzel: Miami
- ESPN’s Pete Thamel: Texas A&M
- CBS Sports’ panel of pickers split 5-4 on the game, with the slight majority siding with the Aggies over the Canes. The four who picked Miami to prevail are Chip Patterson, Richard Johnson, David Cobb, and Brad Crawford.
- USA Today’s six writers split 4-2, with the majority again going with the Aggies. Paul Myerberg is the only one who didn’t see a single-digit game, picking a 34-23 Miami win.
- SI’s Pat Forde didn’t offer a game score, but he did pick Texas A&M -3.5, so he’s going with the Aggies.
So, it’s a pretty close split, which fits with the close point spread, but the Aggies are getting a slight nod.
As for what I think, I’m going with Miami 32, Texas A&M 28. The Aggies are a bit of a boom or bust team on both sides of the ball, but it’s going to be on the defensive side where Miami has the slight edge. Malachi Toney gets loose, and Girard Pringle, Jr. has a long score. On the other side of the ball, I have a feeling Keionte Scott is going to make his presence felt in his return with an impact play that helps swing the tide Miami’s way.
This really does feel like a close game that could go either way, but with the way Miami s playing – and with the fuel that Miami has gotten publicly over the last couple of weeks, especially Rueben Bain, Jr. – this feels like a spot where Miami rises up and shuts some mouths.
Go Canes!
