The Texas A&M Aggies are still right in the thick of the SEC title race, and they can further improve their chances of winning the conference with another victory this Wednesday night when they visit the Alabama Crimson Tide.
However, the Tide have shown lots of grit against ranked opponents this season and they intend to make the Aggies the next casualty. Who will prevail from this thrilling Southeastern showdown? Let’s take a closer look below.
Then, check out our preview for Providence vs. Marquette to be on top of another solid NCAA basketball mid-week matchup.
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Texas A&M Aggies vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Preview
Where: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa
When: Wednesday, January 6, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Texas A&M Aggies (-4.5) at Alabama Crimson Tide (+4.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Texas A&M Aggies (18-5)
After a slow start to their season, the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies have gotten back on track of late by reeling off victories against weaker opponents.
On Friday, the Aggies blew out The South Carolina State Spartans, 104-64, to extend their current winning streak to six games. They used that contest to test out their young guns and were rewarded with fantastic results.
Six of Texas A&M’s freshmen saw action on Friday, with four of them scoring in double-digits for a total of 63 of the team’s 104 points. The rookie that stood out the most was undoubtedly D.J. Hogg, as the 6-foot-8 perimeter shooter scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 5-of-9 from downtown to go with six rebounds.
Having someone like Hogg as a breath of fresh air can certainly do wonders for the Aggies’ late-season run, especially now that they’re entering a crucial two-game road swing against their SEC rivals. After Wednesday’s bout against dangerous Alabama, the team will then head to the Bayou on Saturday to face the LSU Tigers, who currently have one-game lead in the conference standings.
The Aggies must continue to move the ball around on offense for success. In the win over the Spartans, they had a total of 30 assists – the first time the school had 30 or more dimes since 2006. Right now, they are eighth in the nation with an average of 18.1 assists per contest.
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Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-9)
A solid 77-64 win over the Kennesaw State Owls on Friday put the Alabama Crimson Tide on the winning end of what’s been a see-saw stretch of late. The Tide have split their last four games at two apiece, but will welcome a return to Coleman Coliseum for their much-anticipated clash with the Aggies.
Of all people, perhaps ‘Bama head coach Avery Johnson will relish Wednesday’s matchup. His son, Avery Johnson Jr., once played for Texas A&M before his dad made him transfer to Tuscaloosa and join the Tide for next season.
Johnson’s team has proven to be a nuance to their elite competition this campaign. Alabama has gone 3-2 in games against ranked opponents thus far, with no sweeter victory than the 73-50 upset of fellow SEC rivals and then-No. 19 Southern Carolina Gamecocks on January 14.
The Tide also appear primed for another victory at home, where they have a relatively superb record of 8-3 for the season. What’s even better is that in the five times they’ve ever hosted the Aggies on their own home court, The Tide won four of those contests.
There’s even better news on the horizon, as junior forward Shannon Hale could make his return on Wednesday night after sitting out the past two games dealing with a foot injury. Hale is averaging 11.3 points per game this season and had 36 combined points over his last two outings before getting hurt.
Writer’s Prediction
The Tide roll past the Aggies in a close battle, 73-70.
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