Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds – Longhorn woes continue at College Station

Texas isn’t looking so good to online betting players anymore after a midseason swoon, and their young guards have been their major problem. They’ll have their hands full when they head to Texas A&M for the basketball version of the “Lone Star Showdown”, and the Longhorns haven’t fared well at Reed Arena lately, which isn’t encouraging for Texas.

The Storyline: Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds
The No.21 Longhorns (22-6, 8-5) have won two straight for the first time in over a month, coming away with a 69-59 win at home over Oklahoma State on Wednesday. The No.22 Aggies (19-8, 8-5) have dropped two of their last three after a tough 70-66 loss at Baylor on Wednesday, and they’ll be out to avenge a 72-67 overtime loss in Austin on January 16th. The “Lone Star Showdown” usually gets attention on the football field, but the rivals are battling out on the hardwood for a good spot in the Big 12 tournament.

Offensive Matchups: Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds
Texas can fill the net with the best of them, but their guard play has been shaky lately. Freshmen Avery Bradley and J’Covan Brown have been inconsistent shooting the ball, and Brown was 0-of-6 from the floor against the Cowboys. However, the guards may not be needed as much if they can another 16-point, eight-board performance from Dexter Pittman, the big center who battles conditioning and foul problems. With Pittman and Damion James, the Longhorns have a monster inside game and that would take pressure off their young guards. Texas is also terrible at the foul line, shooting 61.7%.
The Aggies aren’t going to dazzle you offensively, and they take care of the ball, which is key in a guard-oriented offense. Donald Sloan is their leading scorer and he had 22 against the Bears on Wednesday, but the Aggies also have Bryan Davis, who is more of a rebounder but has shown to be capable of making shots in the post.

Betting Edge: Texas

Defensive Matchups: Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds
Pittman is a force in the middle when he is on the floor, and if he could play more than 20 minutes a game, the Longhorns’ sportsbook odds would be even better. Bradley leads a very able group of perimeter defenders, but due to their age, they sometimes get caught out of position. The Longhorns are 18th in field-goal defense, and they don’t make it easy on you, but it is possible to get on a run against them.
Texas A&M is more disciplined than Texas, and they’re more likely to try and stay in front of you, and then fight for the rebound. The matchup between Davis and James in the post should be a great one to watch, although James got the upper hand with 26 points and 12 boards. The Aggies have a habit of letting teams stay in the game, and they usually make the key stop, but they failed to do so at Baylor.

Betting Edge: Draw

Coaching Matchup: Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds
Rick Barnes hasn’t been able to get his young guards to come around, and the talent is there, but their shot selection is sometimes awful. Barnes needs to reiterate how important it is for them to get the ball inside to James and Pittman, especially Pittman because you don’t know how long he’ll be out there. It’s been a disappointing year for Barnes.
Mark Turgeon would get a big pat on the back if the Aggies have a better record at the end of the season than their rivals, and given the talent difference between the two teams, it’s great that the Aggies have found themselves in the top 25. The Aggies have a pair of second-round exits in the NCAA Tournament in Turgeon’s two years at College Station, and anything less would be disappointing.

Betting Edge: Texas A&M

Betting Prediction: Texas vs Texas A&M Betting Odds
The Aggies should be favored at Reed Arena, where they are 13-1, and their sole loss came against Kansas. The Longhorns have won six of their last 10 against Texas A&M, but they’ve lost five in a row at College Station, and the last three losses have come by an average of 16.6 points. The Aggies will be more aggressive at home, and they’ll have some confidence from playing Kansas tough just over a week ago. The key will be experience, as Sloan and Derrick Roland are a pair of seniors, and they’ll be looking to get under the skin of Texas’ young guards, wasting a great game by James. The Longhorns just haven’t been able to mesh their youth and experience, and the Aggies will come away with a big win.

Washington’s Pick: Texas A&M

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