Texas A&M Aggies (21-14) vs. Houston Cougars (31-4)
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Houston Cougars 3/24/24 – At this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, Texas A&M Aggies of 21-14 will face off against Houston Cougars of 31-4 for an exciting showdown that promises to be electric. Multi-handicapper picks have already started pouring in, showing just how exciting and unpredictable March Madness can be.
The Aggies proved their resilience and their competence, and led the way to a stable position in the season. They show great offence, they make an average of 74.8 points per game with a field goal of 39.9%. The three-point shooting of that team might be around 28.4% and can be improved, but their rebounds are strong, with 42.7 per game. The offensive rebounds and steals average of 17.3 and 7.1, respectively (Texas A&M’s play style) supports it as the team plays on both ends of the court.
Moreover, the Houston Cougars have been completely amazing. They have an outstanding record of 31-4, which shows their superb performance in this regard. On average, the Cougars reach 73 points per game, meanwhile, have greater efficiency in scoring, with field goal percentage standing at 43.4%. 3-point shooting percentage of their team is 34.7%, adding 7.7 average 3-point field goals per game. Houston has defensively been their strong point with them recording 10 steals and 4.7 blocks per game, highlighting the team’s capability to disrupt opponents’ play and capitalize on turnovers.
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Houston Cougars Game Info
| When: | Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 8:40 PM ET |
| Where: | FedExForum |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Wade Taylor IV (Guard) vs. L.J. Cryer (Guard)
Wade Taylor IV has been almost a mainstay for the Aggies, he has averaged 18.9 points per game and has been in play in all of the 34 games. He outperforms the field, averaging 31.5 points per game, not just scoring, but also notches up 4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. On the part of shooting free throws, which is 36.9%, Taylor’s notable dexterity as well as his art of making those key moves makes him a really tough opponent to deal with.
While L.J. Cryer from the Houston Cougars also offers a different set of skills to the court, his style of play makes him a formidable opponent. He averages 15.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game with high efficiency from the field (40.3%) and deep shooting (39%), therefore, becoming one of the important men of the team offensively. In addition to this, his great free-throw precision (87.5%) provides him with this sought-after reliability in high-stress scenarios.
When Taylor IV and Cryer go head-to-head on the court, it will be rivalry between two score-happy guards, who can turn a game around with their input of points and playmaking moves. Taylor’s confidence and Cryer’s accuracy throughout the season will give us an interesting contrast, showing both players fighting for supremacy and trying to decide the libero’s place in the points scoring process for their team.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Cougars -492, Total Odds: 133
The betting odds suggest a strong favoritism towards Houston, given their -492 moneyline and the game’s total set at 133 points. This indicates expectations of a defensively strong game, with Houston’s solid defensive record slightly tilting the odds in their favor.
Texas A&M Betting Trends
The Aggies have outdone the spread quite well, coming up with 4 wins in their last 5 games. The most unique feature of the team is the ability to perform more than expected, especially in achieving the goal in high-pressure games, which demonstrates their resilience. Nevertheless, their record of 8-8-8 against the spread on the road in road games might signal some inconsistency away from home.
Houston Cougars Betting Trends
Being 4-1 in the last 5 games brings out Houston’s capability to keep the momentum. Their 3-2 record against the spread in the same time range suggests a minor advantage, but their away games against the spread (3-9) indicate home ground vulnerability.
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Houston Cougars 3/24/24 Betting Picks
In light of this data and trends, this game demonstrates offense on offense and defense on defense.defense scenario. With the Aggies’ tendency of pushing the tempo and scoring, balanced against the Cougars’ high efficiency on defense, both teams will find themselves in a game with high stakes. The primary winning factor of Texas A&M lies in their capacity to upset Houston’s fundamentals and to convert turnovers with quick transitions. To Houston, the key lies in sustaining their defensive pressure and capitalizing on their overall shooting percentage.
Therefore, it seems that they lean towards Houston for the win, but do not count on Texas A&M to cover the spread. On the total points, a combination of under/over would offer a value for money beyond the simple moneyline. In short, for free March Madness picks, support Houston to win, Texas A&M to cover +9.5, and the total totaling over 133 points.
Free Pick and Prediction: Houston Cougars 72, Texas A&M Aggies 64.