Former UCLA head coach and current CBS Sports analyst Rick Neuheisel is known for supporting underdogs, and he made a bold prediction on Tuesday night during “Inside College Football” on CBS Sports.
Week 13 brought high-stakes matchups and significant drama that reshaped the College Football Playoff race. The SEC was hit the hardest, and Neuheisel foresees another potential upset this weekend.
The former Pac-12 coach confidently predicts the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies will upset the No. 3 Texas Longhorns in College Station. Despite being 5.5-point underdogs, Neuheisel is backing the Aggies, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“[Texas] has averaged less than 6.5 yards per attempt in each of their last two games. That’s not going to get it done in that environment. We know about the SEC — the home field matters. This is going to be the home field, plus 12, 13, 14, and 15. Give me the Aggies,” Neuheisel stated.
This game carries significant playoff implications. The winner will meet the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship. For Texas A&M, it’s their only path to the playoffs after losing to Auburn in overtime during Week 13.
The Aggies must defeat Texas and upset Georgia to secure an automatic bid, which would likely also grant them a first-round bye. However, that’s a tall order for a team that gave up 43 points to an unranked Auburn team.
The Longhorns have their own issues after Week 13, with quarterback Quinn Ewers sustaining an ankle injury.
While he finished the game, he was visibly in pain, adding more uncertainty to the showdown in College Station. Despite these challenges, Neuheisel believes Texas A&M will emerge victorious in this crucial matchup.