Former Big 12 foes will collide in one of the late afternoon games of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday when the Kansas Jayhawks play host to the Texas A&M Aggies. These two teams have not met since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, so there is none of the familiarity that might be there if the move was more recent. Still, there is no doubt that the Kansas faithful will be there to welcome the Aggies back with a loud chorus of “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk.”
This war on the floor will go down Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. ET at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The game will be televised live on ESPN. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
Opening College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas A&M looked like one of the best teams in the country before conference play started. The Aggies started the season 11-1 with wins over teams like West Virginia, USC, and Oklahoma State, and their only loss was a narrow three-point defeat at the hands of Arizona.
However, SEC play has not been kind to the Aggies. Texas A&M has only won two of its last eight games and are 2-6 ATS during that stretch as well. This team is really looking forward to facing a non-conference foe again.
Kansas is on top of the Big 12, but it’s hold has been rather precarious. The Jayhawks have yet to beat a conference foe by more than six points and just suffered their second loss in Big 12 play on Tuesday night. That has led to this team failing to cash in four of their last five. Additionally, Kansas has yet to cover at home in 2018.
Under has been a very good bet to make in Kansas games. It has cashed in each of the Jayhawks’ last four and is 11-8 overall.
Matchup to Watch
Defense has been the hallmark for the Aggies this season. Texas A&M has one of the country’s top defenses, and that helped the team stay competitive. The Aggies rank in the top 15 in both field goal defense and three-point defense. Opponents have combined to hit just 39 percent of their field goals and a miniscule 30.5 percent of their threes on the season.
With Kansas, it’s almost always about the offense. The Jayhawks have been led by their solid guard play this season. While this is possibly the weakest Kansas team we have seen in a decade, they are still a threat to beat anyone because of their shooting. The school is in the top 20 in field goal percentage (49.9 percent) and three-point percentage (40.5 percent).
Player to Watch
Tommy Davis has been the one player that the Aggies can rely on this season. Billy Kennedy has suspended half the roster for at least one game this season, and starters D. J. Hogg, Admon Gilder, Duane Wilson, and Robert Williams have all missed time due to suspension. That has meant others have had to play outsized roles, and Davis has done just that.
Davis is the team’s leading scorer and one of it’s most efficient shooters. He is hitting 57.9 percent of his field goals and is pulling down 8.6 rebounds a game at this point. Davis is a hard person for teams to match up against because he is a muscular 6’10 and will punish you with his low post game. He will be one of the keys if the Aggies are to get the upset.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Kansas is likely to be a popular pick. However, the Aggies are the better play in this one. The duo of Davis and Williams is very hard for opponents to counter and that could get Udoka Azubuike into foul trouble early. If that happens, don’t be surprised to see Texas A&M pull off the upset.
College Basketball Odds: Kansas 79, Texas A&M 77
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