Texas A&M vs. Arkansas prediction, pick
The Texas A&M Aggies take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Our college basketball odds series contains our Texas A&M Arkansas prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Texas A&M Arkansas.
The SEC basketball season has been a wild ride. How many people thought Texas A&M would be 7-1 in eight conference games? The Aggies were legitimately bad in the non-conference portion of their schedule, losing to Wofford, Murray State, Boise State by 15 and Colorado by 28 points. These losses still prevent Texas A&M from participating in the NCAA Tournament at this time. However, the 7-1 start in the SEC sent the Aggies into the bubble. If they can get a few more high-quality wins, they should be in the big dance in March. A&M struggled out of the conference last season, then improved in the face of opposition from the SEC. The Aggies were one of the first four teams to leave the field. They cut it too close and paid the price. A&M must make sure to leave no doubt this time about its place in March Madness. A win here over Arkansas would be a big step forward.
Both Texas A&M and Arkansas are bubble teams. Arkansas stumbled in the SEC, undoing the good work it did outside of the conference. Both teams are on the bubble but have taken opposite paths to get there.
Here are the Texas A&M-Arkansas college basketball odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
College Basketball Odds: Texas A&M-Arkansas Odds
Texas A&M Aggies: +3.5 (-110)
Arkansas Razorbacks: -3.5 (-110)
Over: 137.5 (-110)
Minus: 137.5 (-110)
How to watch Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
Television: ESPN2
Stream: ESPN+
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. PT
*Watch Texas A&M-Arkansas LIVE with fuboTV (Click for Free Trial)*
Why Texas A&M could cover the spread
If the Texas A&M Aggies want to reach the NCAA Tournament, they’ll have to win road games like this. They won on the road at Auburn last week, so maybe they’re finding their groove and gaining confidence as an SEC road team. Their only previous SEC road wins were at Florida and South Carolina, which are not heading to the NCAA Tournament. Auburn’s win turned a lot of heads and caught the attention of everyone in the conference. It was an equation shift that showed the Aggies are an improved team and can win important away games. Buzz Williams turned A&M last season after a poor start; he did the same this season. Buzz Williams is an Elite Eight coach (with Marquette in 2013), so he knows what he’s doing.
Meanwhile, Arkansas — without star freshman Nick Smith (injury) — has clearly struggled this season. The Hogs are 3-5 in the SEC and have lost four straight before beating LSU and Ole Miss, two of the conference’s worst teams. Arkansas struggles in the second half, which is a marked change from the previous few seasons under coach Eric Musselman.
Why Arkansas might cover the spread
The Hogs badly need this game. It’s a bubble team that is not guaranteed a place in the NCAA tournament. For a team that has made the Elite Eight each of the past two seasons, it’s a shock to the system. You will see this team play with urgency and desperation in this game. Playing at home will fuel the energy of the Razorbacks, who should be very active on defense and can track down A&M’s half-court offense.
Texas A&M-Arkansas Final Prediction and Picks
Stay away from this game. Both teams need it badly, and neither team is the picture of consistency.
Texas A&M-Arkansas Final Prediction and Pick: Arkansas -3.5