Published Mar 20, 10:11pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 20, 10:11pm ET
Updated Mar 20, 10:12pm ET
A Texas showdown is set for the Round of 32 in March Madness, as the Houston Cougars take on the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies handled Saint Mary’s in dominant fashion, but they now face a much tougher test against Houston.
|
|
|---|---|
| HOUSTON COUGARS | -500 |
| TEXAS A&M AGGIES | +380 |
The Aggies put together a solid season, finishing 22-11 out of the SEC. They opened the tournament with a 63-50 win over Saint Mary’s, with Rashaun Agee leading the way through an excellent all-around performance of 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and just 1 turnover.
For More March Madness Betting Odds and Predictions, See the Full Hub
Agee will need to deliver again, especially considering he averages 14.9 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, and shoots 49.4% from the field. Texas A&M is also a strong playmaking team, and it will need to move the ball well in order to challenge Houston’s tough defensive mentality and try to wear the Cougars down.
The Cougars have shown all season why they are considered one of the premier teams heading into the tournament. They finished the season 29-6 overall and easily handled Idaho with a 78-47 victory. Kingston Flemings led the way with 18 points on 66% shooting, while adding 4 assists. Chris Cenac also made a major impact with a remarkable 18 rebounds.
Houston carries elite March Madness odds and is widely expected to make a deep tournament run. At the very least, the Cougars will likely be aiming for a trip to the Final Four, an achievement they have reached multiple times in program history.
Houston enters the game as a 10.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 142.5. The moneyline is -500 for the Cougars and +380 for Texas A&M. Historically, No. 10 seeds upset No. 2 seeds only about 15% of the time, so this will be a tough task for the Aggies.
This game should be a physical battle between Texas A&M’s rebounding strength and Houston’s intense defense. If the Cougars are able to control the tempo and limit the Aggies’ scoring, they should be in great position to win. We have Houston advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
|
Pick
Houston Cougars (-500)
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
