Texas A&M vs. Tennessee Odds
| Texas A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -110 | 131.5 -110o / -110u | +500 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -110 | 131.5 -110o / -110u | -700 |
Texas A&M travels to face Tennessee, and the Aggies will have their hands full against one of the top home court advantages in the country.
The Volunteers are still undefeated at home this season after winning their first 11 home games, but they have struggled on the road, with just a 3-6 record.
Most recently, Tennessee fell to Texas on Saturday night in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
TEXAS SURVIVES AND DEFEATS #18 TENNESSEE[ pic.twitter.com/6qfBYi6Sym
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) January 30, 2022
Texas A&M is desperate for a victory after dropping four conference games in a row. The program is 15-6, but has started to struggle now that it has entered the meat of its schedule.
Is Texas A&M capable of handing Tennessee its first loss of the season while playing at Thompson-Boling Arena?
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M opened the season 15-2 thanks to an incredibly soft schedule. The Aggies only faced four opponents that rank inside KenPom’s top 100 and went 2-2 in those games.
Since then, the program has lost its last four games as the competition has stiffened.
Last time out, Texas A&M allowed a 19-2 run in the second half, which doomed it against South Carolina.
Buzz Williams' group has lost four games straight against some of the top teams in the SEC. The Aggies lost by six to Kentucky and LSU while taking Arkansas to overtime.
Texas A&M is much stronger on the defensive end of the floor. The Aggies defense ranks 45th in defensive efficiency and forces opponents to turn it over at the 11th-highest rate in the nation. They’re strong inside the perimeter, as they have held opponents to 45% on 2-point shots.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee basketball program has continued with its trend of struggling on the road and dominating at home. The Volunteers own a 3-6 road record and have been outscored by an average of three points in those games.
But when playing at Thompson-Boling Arena, the group has been near perfect.
| Record | Points For | Points Against | Margin | |
| Home | 11-0 | 79 | 57 | 22 |
| Away | 3-6 | 66 | 69 | -3 |
The Vols lean on their elite defense that ranks fifth in the country in defensive efficiency and allows 62 points per game. They should be able to put the clamps down on a Texas A&M offense that ranks outside the top 140 in both 2-point (50%) and 3-point (34%) percentages.
Tennessee’s defense ranks seventh in the nation in forcing turnovers. That could be pivotal against an Aggies offense that coughs the ball up on nearly 20% of its possessions — the 211th rate nationally.
Tennessee has seen an offensive boost from guard Santiago Vescovi, who has scored 13 or more points in nine of his last 10 games. Most of his damage is done from beyond the perimeter, where he’s connecting on 38% of his 154 attempts this season.
He was off against Texas on Saturday, but is poised for a bounce-back game against the Texas A&M defense that allows a boatload of outside shots.
Texas A&M vs. Tennessee Betting Pick
Each program prides itself on its ability to lock down its opponent. Tennessee ranks fifth in defensive efficiency and will be matching up against a Texas A&M offense that ranks outside the top 140 in 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts.
Texas A&M’s defense ranks among the top 50 in the country while Tennessee’s offense has been sporadic this season. The Vols haven’t been terrific shooting the basketball well either, hitting 33% from behind the arc (198th) and 51% on 2-point attempts (117th).
The Vols have been in a bit of a slump shooting the basketball recently, hitting just 39% of their field goal attempts over the last four games. Each defense has been strong at forcing turnovers, and both offenses have struggled to take care of the ball.
Tennessee has been terrific all season at home, but Texas A&M is scrappy and has found ways to stay competitive even against the toughest competition recently.
This matchup is set to be a defensive battle, which opens value on the under.
