- The #1 Houston Cougars will face the #9 Texas A&M Aggies on Sunday, March 24
- Both teams dominated their first-round games
- The opening Houston vs Texas A&M odds heavily favor the top-seeded Cougars
The #9 Texas A&M Aggies put up 90-plus points for the third straight game on Friday, cruising to an impressive 98-83 win over #8 Nebraska. But scoring the ball will get much tougher from here as the Aggies get set to face the #1 Houston Cougars in the round of 32 at FedEx Forum in Memphis on Sunday, March 24.
Houston and its top-rated defense have opened as ten-point favorites over the Aggies
Texas A&M vs Houston Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M Aggies | +10 (-110) | +360 | O 131 (-110) |
| Houston Cougars | -10 (-110) | -470 | U 131 (-110) |
Odds as of March 23 at DraftKings.
Houston (+130) remains a heavy favorite to win the South in the Final Four odds.
Aggies Offense Firing on All Cylinders
Texas A&M came out firing in its first-round game with Nebraska. The Aggies scored 58 first-half points and took a 14-point lead into halftime. The rest was academic as the Cornhuskers were never closer than 15 in the final 15 minutes of the game. Three separate players had at least 20 points for the Aggies, led by Wade Taylor IV with 25 on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and an electric 7-of-10 performance from three.
Including a 97-87 win over Kentucky and a 95-90 loss to Florida (both in the SEC Tournament), Texas A&M has now scored 90-plus points in three straight games. The Aggies offense is sitting 30th in efficiency at KenPom while their defense is 62nd.
The win over Nebraska improved Texas A&M’s record against top-50 teams to 7-6. One of those losses was a narrow 70-66 setback to Houston at the Toyota Center.
Houston Runs Over Longwood
The Cougars played the role of a #1 seed to a tee on Friday night, blasting Longwood 43-16 in the first half and rolling to an 86-46 victory.
That was just the latest in a long line of dominant defensive performances from Houston. The Cougars allowed just 57 PPG, on average, this season and finished the regular season first in defensive efficiency. Overall, they rank second, narrowly trailing UConn. The Cougars have now held 21 of 35 opponents under 60 points.
Last season, Houston beat #16 Northern Kentucky (63-52) and #9 Auburn (81-64) in the NCAA Tournament (also as a #1 seed) before losing to Miami in the Sweet 16 (89-75).
Unlike last season, though, when Houston was still in the AAC, this year’s Cougars are battle-tested after winning the Big 12 regular-season title with a 15-3 record. Houston has already played 19 games against top-50 teams, going 15-4 straight up.
The winner of Texas A&M vs Houston will face the winner of James Madison vs Duke in the Sweet 16.
Expected Texas A&M vs Houston Line Movement
The way Texas A&M looked against Nebraska, coupled with the fact that they played the Cougars extremely close in a de facto road game in Houston earlier in the year, suggests that this line is going to narrow. But don’t expect it to move too much. Houston projects to win 70-60 per KenPom, and did nothing on Friday to dissuade bettors that they are the most-credible threat to UConn in the March Madness championship odds.
The highly anticipated matchup between Texas A&M and Houston is set to kick off the college football season, with the Cougars being favored by double-digits in the opening game. This game is sure to be a thrilling showdown between two powerhouse teams, and fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome.
The odds for this matchup heavily favor Houston, with many experts predicting that the Cougars will come out on top by a significant margin. This is due in part to Houston’s strong roster and impressive track record in recent seasons. Led by head coach Dana Holgorsen, the Cougars have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with on the field.
On the other hand, Texas A&M is no slouch either. The Aggies have a talented roster and a history of success in college football. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has been instrumental in building a competitive team that is capable of taking on any opponent. While they may be the underdogs in this matchup, the Aggies are sure to put up a fight and give Houston a run for their money.
Both teams have been preparing diligently for this game, and it promises to be an exciting and intense battle from start to finish. Fans can expect to see some top-notch football as these two teams go head-to-head in what is sure to be a memorable season opener.
Ultimately, the odds may favor Houston in this matchup, but anything can happen on game day. Both teams have the talent and determination to come out on top, and it will be interesting to see which team ultimately emerges victorious. One thing is for certain – this game is not to be missed. So mark your calendars and get ready for a thrilling showdown between Texas A&M and Houston.
