It’s come down to this.
Texas football vs Texas A&M football. The latter is fighting for postseason seeding and the right to play in the SEC title. The former is fighting for its College Football Playoff life.
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Texas Longhorns football coach Steve Sarkisian (left) and Texas A&M Aggies football coach Mike Elko (right).
Austin American-Statesman
So who will win the Lone Star Showdown, back for its second meeting after a decade-plus hiatus? Texas has won four of the last five matchups, including last year’s 17-7.
RELATED: QB Arch Manning shows ‘resolve and resiliency’ ahead of Aggies’ visit
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Here’s what our staff thinks as well as the latest betting lines:
Texas vs Texas A&M prediction
Tony Catalina
Catalina, the American-Statesman’s Aggies beat reporter, is taking A&M.
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Texas A&M 24, Texas 20. A season of revenge continues for the Aggies. A&M continues on with a road win in Austin to preserve its perfect regular season and clinch a spot in the SEC title game. The Longhorns have looked better down the stretch, but with some of their protection issues up front, the Aggies will be too much to overcome Friday.
FULL AGGIES PREVIEW: A&M vs Texas betting lines, scouting report
Danny Davis
Our lead Texas Longhorns football reporter, Davis thinks UT will get it done at home.
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Texas. Who doesn’t love a little drama around the holidays? Arch Manning will continue his late-season surge and Texas will at least give the CFP committee something to think about after spoiling the Aggies’ perfect season.
David Eckert
More confidence in the home team, this time from our Longhorns Insider.
Texas 35, Texas A&M 31. The improved play of the Longhorns’ offensive line and Manning fuel a big night for Texas against an average Aggies defense. On the other side of the ball, UT creates one or two game-deciding turnovers.
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[ Check out our latest power rankings to see where Texas, Texas A&M land ]
Cedric Golden
Golden, our longtime sports columnist, is taking the Aggies.
Texas A&M 34, Texas 31. I expect they will give the Aggies a spirited battle, but Texas A&M is too battle-tested and too solid at key positions to allow what would be an historic 12-0 season to fall by the wayside. I’m taking the Aggies to win a shootout, 34-31.
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Thomas Jones
And to pull the Statesman staff vote 3-2 in favor of A&M is Jones, another Longhorns football beat reporter.
Texas A&M 38, Texas 35. Manning may be the best player on the field Friday, but the Aggies have too much firepower across the board against a Longhorns defense that suddenly has a splurge of concerns.
FULL LONGHORNS PREVIEW: Longhorn betting lines, predictions for Week 14
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Texas vs Texas A&M bettling lines
Odds per BetMGM as of Friday morning.
Moneyline: A&M -150, Texas +115
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Who will win Texas A&M vs Texas?
Here’s what national outlets think:
CBS: Nine writers gave their opinions with six taking the Aggies.
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ESPN’s matchup predictor: It’s almost a tossup; Texas is favored with a 51.5% chance of winning.
USA TODAY: Sports reporter Ehsan Kassim is taking A&M, 27-24.
College Football HQ: Texas A&M, 29-24
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Athlon Sports: Both writers are taking A&M by a 27-24 score.
Sports Illustrated: Betting editor Iain MacMillan is taking Texas A&M.