College Basketball Preview: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas A&M Aggies

The 11th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (13-3) have an opportunity to climb higher if they can win their battle over the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (13-3) on Tuesday, January 14 at 7:00 PM ET at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats are favored at home with a point spread at -6.5 (-110) at MyBookie.

Texas A&M Aggies Betting Preview

The Aggies had a good nine-game win streak, defeating three teams in the top-25. But, that ended against the fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a 94-88 defeat.

Zhuric Phelps led with 24 points and three assists, while Pharrel Payne was not far behind with 23 off the bench. Henry Coleman III had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. This matchup also marked the first time in the program’s history with a battle of two top-10 ranked teams at College Station in Texas.

Both teams shot fairly similarly from the field, with the Aggies making 38.9 percent of their shots and just 22.2 percent from three. They allowed the Crimson Tide to make 35.1 from deep and forced 15 turnovers.

The Aggies are getting 77.4 points a game and nailing 43.1 percent of their shots. On defense they have held teams to 65.4 points a game. However, they do not move the ball as well as the Wildcats do, as they put up 12.9 assists compared to the Wildcats’ 18.6 each game.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats have gone 3-2 over their last five games. Their most recent battle was a 95-90 win over the 14th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs, which put them back on the winning side.

Jaxson Robinson led with a season-high 27 points and shot 70 percent from behind the arc in just 30 minutes of action. Otega Oweh was next in line with 15 points and the Wildcats had six players in double digits.

While their offense was productive and scorching from beyond the arc at 50 percent, you could argue that it could have gone the other way. Their defense allowed the Bulldogs to make 45.1 percent of their shots and 30 percent from long range.

The Wildcats are averaging 89.2 points a game while netting 48.6 percent of their shots. Their defense could be stronger, as they allow opponents to average 74.9 points a game. This is still a great spread, but only when their offense is clicking.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

The Texas A&M Aggies vs. Kentucky Wildcats betting odds have been offered through MyBookie, which favors the Wildcats by 6.5 points. The Wildcats have a 60.5 percent chance of winning at home, according to market predictions. The Wildcats are tough to beat at home and they have an appealing offense, giving them an edge to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Kentucky Wildcats -6.5 (-110)