Texas A&M (9) vs. Houston (1) Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
No. 9 Texas A&M of the SEC faces No. 1 Houston of the Big 12 from Memphis, and the Cougars are 10-point favourites on the college basketball odds.
Texas A&M vs. Houston NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
The winner of this game faces either No. 12 James Madison or No. 4 Duke in the Elite Eight, and we presume that will be Duke (as opposed to the Dukes).
Texas A&M is in the second round of the Dance for the first time since 2018 when it reached the Sweet 16 and lost to Michigan. Aggies head coach Buzz Williams has now won an NCAA Tournament game at three different schools – Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Marquette. His career record at the Dance improved to 11-9 with the first-round win over Nebraska.
Houston has reached the Round of 32 for a sixth straight NCAA Tournament. It reached the Sweet 16 last year but was upset by Miami (Fla.). These schools played in a neutral-site tournament in Houston (just not the Cougars’ home gym) on Dec. 16 and the Cougars won 70-66. Perhaps the most notable thing from that game was UH losing a key player, Terrance Arceneaux, to a season-ending injury during it. Obviously hasn’t hurt too much.
To win the South, Houston is +125 and A&M +2000.
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M was a pretty mediocre SEC team this season but always more talented than its record. The Aggies won for the sixth time in seven games Friday, knocking off No. 8 seed Nebraska (we called that), 98-83. The 98 points were a school record for an NCAA Tournament game as the Aggies dominated in the post with a 40-28 rebounding advantage, 40 points in the paint and 16 second-chance points. Thing is, this is a guard-oriented team led by All-SEC first-team Wade Taylor Jr., who had 25 points and five assists. Fellow guard Tyrece Radford had 20 points and 10 rebounds, the 10th NCAA Tournament double-double in school history. Texas A&M is now 15-2 when Radford scores 20 or more points. The Aggies had just eight turnovers and are 14-2 this season when they have nine or fewer turnovers.
Houston Cougars
Big 12 regular-season champion Houston is the best defensive team in the country and that was on display in an 86-46 romp over No. 16 Longwood on Friday as the Lancers shot just 34.1 per cent overall and 3-for-13 from deep. “It’s really hard to simulate that level of physicality and speed and just how hard they play,” Longwood coach Griff Aldrich said. Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead had 11 points and nine assists for UH. No Houston starter played more than 29 minutes, and that’s obviously important with the quick turnaround. It was Houston’s 15th win this season by at least 15 points. The Cougars shot 48 per cent from deep and the way the play defence, they will win it all for the first time if they continue to shoot like that.
TAM
HOU