TCU vs. Texas A&M Odds & Picks: The Spread Bet to Make for In-State Rivalry (Saturday, December 11)
John E. Moore III/Getty Images. Pictured: Mike Miles Jr.
- We have an in-state rivalry on our plates for the later portion of the college basketball slate.
- The TCU Horned Frogs take on the Texas A&M Aggies in a Texas-sized showdown later on Saturday.
- TCU enters a small favorite, and Kyle Remillard explains why they should cover below.
TCU vs. Texas A&M Odds
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -110 | 128.5 -120o / +100u | -125 |
| Texas A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -110 | 128.5 -120o /+100u | +105 |
Texas A&M and TCU go to battle in the Battleground 2K21 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, Saturday night.
Texas A&M has started the season 7-1 with five victories over cake-walk opponents. In its three games against opponents that rank inside the top 100, the Aggies are 2-1 with their sole loss coming to Wisconsin. They led by 16 points in the opening 10 minutes in that contest before being outscored by 27 points the rest of the game.
Jamie Dixon and the TCU Horned Frogs have followed a similar path as the Aggies, opening the season 7-1. Five of those victories have come against opponents that rank outside the top 200 in the country.
They laid an egg against Santa Clara but rebounded nicely, winning four straight, including a 76-62 victory over Utah last time out.
Two win streaks will be put to the test, and whichever team takes care of the basketball will have an edge in keeping its streak alive.
TCU Horned Frogs
Head coach Jamie Dixon pulled the plug on last year's 12-14 roster and hits full rebuild mode after bringing in eight transfers.
One of the few returning pieces, Mike Miles Jr., has led the program to a 7-1 start this season. Miles has averaged 17.1 points after scoring double digits in every game this season to go along with his 4.7 assists per game.
Emanuel Miller has led the group of transfers this season, putting up 10.6 points, and his 7.1 rebounds per contest ranks second in the Big 12. He’s been one of the best in the country in keeping possessions alive, grabbing 3.3 offensive rebounds per game.
TCU has improved significantly in the turnover department, which hindered the offense early in the season. After turning the ball over 49 times in its first three contests, the offense has totaled only 51 turnovers in five games since.
It’s shot the ball horrifically from behind the arc, hitting 28% from 3-point range, which ranks outside the top 300 nationally. But the Horned Frogs have dominated the glass, where they have kept possessions alive on 40% of their misses.
Texas A&M Aggies
After not playing a game in the month of February last season due to COVID-19, Texas A&M saw a slew of players leave the program. Buzz Williams brought in a heavy group of transfers of his own, which has led to a complete rebuild.
The Aggies feature a deep group that has seen 11 players get consistent minutes. With that depth has come a well-balanced offense that has seven players averaging six or more points per game this season.
One of the few returning pieces is Quenton Jackson, who has hit 12-of-26 3-point attempts coming off the bench, leading to a dozen points per game.
The Aggies defense has been the strength this season ranking inside the top 50 in defensive efficiency and allowing 60 points per game. They rank 11th in the nation in defensive turnover percentage and have forced double-digit turnovers in every game this season.
But on the offensive end of the court, Texas A&M has also turned it over at least 10 times in every game.
On the season, A&M has been shooting lights out from beyond the arc hitting 38.7% of its 155 attempts this season. But it's struggled to score inside the paint, ranking outside the top 240 in 2-point percentage.
TCU vs. Texas A&M Betting Pick
Texas A&M plays a 1-2-2 full-court press that falls back into man-to-man defense in hopes to slow down opposing offenses. Once in the half-court defense, the Aggies hope to pick up the intensity by forcing lazy passes and turnovers.
That won’t work against TCU, which has improved its turnovers per game significantly over the course of the young season.
On the other end, TCU has forced an average of 16.4 turnovers per game on defense. That will take a toll against a Texas A&M team that has turned it over 13.6 times per contest this season.
TCU will dominate the boards in this matchup and capitalize in extended possessions. Defensively, it will put the clamps down and do so without sending its opponent to the free-throw line.
In what is anticipated to be a close matchup, it will be the Horned Frogs who come out victorious against a Texas A&M roster that is still trying to find its identity.
Pick: TCU -1.5 (Play to -3)
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