NCAA Football BETTING PREVIEW - Miami Hurricanes @ Texas AM Aggies

NCAA Football

2025-12-20 - Miami Hurricanes at Texas AM Aggies

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Miami Hurricanes @ Texas A&M Aggies
United States : College Football Playoff First Round
Saturday 20th December 2025 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)

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Preview

If the inclusion of the Alabama Crimson Tide is considered controversial, having an ACC representative that did not win the Conference Championship involved has really stirred things up.

The Miami Hurricanes (10-2) were given plenty of respect by the Playoff Committee down the stretch, but they were not able to push their way into the ACC Championship Game. Ultimately that may not have been a bad thing knowing a defeat would have meant elimination, but Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans will be absolutely sickened to finally have been passed by the Hurricanes in the final Playoff Rankings.

All of the controversy means there is some pressure on Miami and they are heading out on the road for the First Round of the Playoffs against what had been one of the more impressive teams in the SEC.

The Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) will be disappointed that a single loss in the final week of the regular season saw them drop out of the top four in the Rankings, but they are hosting and will be looking to bounce back from that loss to the Longhorns. It was the Defensive unit that really let them down that day, but for the majority of the season the Aggies have played well on that side of the ball and they have had a bit of time to reassess, refocus, and make sure they are ready to compete.

Plenty of people believe these teams are well matched and will want to approach this game in similar ways, and it has also been noted that both the Hurricanes and Aggies have not really faced schedules as tough as they may have been. Both have beaten the Florida Gators in dominant fashion during the regular season, but this is another of the very close looking opening Round Playoff games and the team that plays the cleanest is likely to move on to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the next Round.

The Line of Scrimmage is going to be really important on both sides of the ball- credit has to be given to the Hurricanes and Aggies for knowing that they can open up the playbook by making sure they are performing from in front of the chains and both will be looking to pound the rock behind strong Offensive Lines.

However, the challenge is that they will be going up against two Defensive Lines that have found a way to clamp down on the run more often than not. Again you have to point out that these teams have not faced an opponent like the other, so there is a bigger test coming up, and that is a key part of this game.

Carson Beck and Marcel Reed have both been playing really well at Quarter Back and the passing numbers will offer them plenty of encouragement.

The Hurricanes may take further confidence from some of the issues that the Aggies have had when facing stronger Offensive units this season, while the Miami Defensive unit has kept the team in games. That may be the slight edge needed in what looks like a First Round game that will come down to the wire and the Hurricanes have every chance of finding a way of getting through as an outright winner.

Having the hook over the key number 3 would have been ideal, but backing the Hurricanes with the points looks the right play, even if this Texas A&M Aggies team have impressed against a relatively weak SEC schedule.

Prediction

Take the points with the road underdog and it is perhaps worth taking the juice out of the price by adding a hook to a key number.

The Pick :

Texas A&M Aggies 24-27 Miami Hurricanes

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Miami Hurricanes + 3.5 Points at -119 with Bookmaker.eu