Texas A&M lists Mario Craver and four front-seven and line starters as questionable at Alabama

Texas A&M could be without its top playmaker and a good part of both lines when it plays at No. 13 Alabama on Saturday. The SEC's first availability report of the week, released Wednesday, lists wide receiver Mario Craver as questionable along with defensive tackle DJ Hicks, defensive end Anto Saka, linebacker Daymion Sanford and left guard Trovon Baugh, as Aggies Wire reported.

All five sat out last week's 41-0 win over The Citadel, according to KBTX, so the open question is whether the light week was rest or a sign of something longer. Under conference rules, questionable means roughly an even chance of playing. Craver has carried that tag in every game since he appeared to get hurt late in the first half at LSU. He played 14 snaps against Arkansas and 30 at Missouri, and he is second on the team with 241 receiving yards on 24 catches, with two touchdowns. KBTX also reported that this is the first time Hicks and Baugh have appeared on the report this season. Baugh, a South Carolina transfer, moved from right guard to left guard for the LSU game and has logged 302 snaps. Receivers Terry Bussey and Kelshaun Johnson and offensive lineman Blake Ivy are listed as out.

Alabama has its own absences. According to On3, receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams (knee) and nose tackle Terrance Green (ankle) are out. Cornerback Zabien Brown, running back EJ Crowell, center Racin Delgatty and defensive end Fatutoa Henry are questionable. Coleman-Williams shares the Tide's lead in receiving yards with 415.

What it means for Saturday

The timing is bad for the Aggies. At 4-3, they have looked like two different teams. They have handled Missouri State, Arizona State, Arkansas and The Citadel, but they scored 6 points in each road loss to ranked opponents, 35-6 at LSU and 27-6 at Missouri. Aggies Wire noted it has been 327 days since Texas A&M scored a touchdown against a ranked team, and the program has not won in Tuscaloosa since 2012. If Craver can't go, those touchdowns will have to come from younger receivers such as TK Norman and Aaron Gregory, who both played well against The Citadel. A thin defensive front would also have to contain quarterback Keelon Russell.

Alabama (5-2) has its own problems. The Tide opened 5-0 and scored at least 45 points in every game, but they have lost two straight: 20-17 to Georgia and 26-10 at Tennessee.

The market is still firmly behind the home side. Across the 12 venues on this site's board, Alabama is favored by 13.5 points. Novig prices the Tide at -525 on the moneyline and -113 on the spread, while Pinnacle has the best Alabama spread price at -108. Texas A&M is +488 on Novig, nearly level with the best price anywhere, Kalshi's +490. Novig lists the Aggies at +104 with 13.5 points, and Hard Rock Bet offers a full 14.5 at -120. The total sits at 49.5. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.4% to 6.7% depending on the market, so it is worth comparing venues on the spread. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.