The ACC/SEC Challenge continues tonight with a classic matchup between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Virginia Cavaliers.
Texas A&M is off to a 6-1 start to the season and upended Iowa State by four points in their latest matchup. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 5-1 and edged instate rival West Virginia by two points in their last matchup.
Please join me as I take a closer look at the college basketball odds and provide my free college basketball picks for Texas A&M vs. Virginia on November 29.
Texas A&M vs Virginia best odds
Texas A&M vs Virginia picks and predictions
If you've been craving an intense college basketball contest on a Wednesday night, Texas A&M vs. Virginia is the perfect game for you.
The Texas A&M Aggies are off to an excellent start to their season, picking up wins over Ohio State in Columbus and Iowa State on a neutral court.
The Aggies must play hard because they have weaknesses that a team like the Virginia Cavaliers can exploit. Texas A&M is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams nationally — with a 48.8% effective field goal percentage — and the Cavaliers annually boast one of the better defenses in the ACC.
The great thing about the Aggies is they play basketball like they know who they are. They understand they don’t shoot well and crash the boards hard. Texas A&M is one of the best offensive-rebounding teams nationally and should have great success with plenty of second-chance opportunities tonight against a smaller Virginia squad that doesn’t rebound well at all.
The Aggies also take care of the ball. They're averaging 13.1 turnovers per game this season and had only six in that Ohio State victory. Virginia averages 18.8 points per game from steals, and it may not enjoy nearly half of those points against a careful Texas A&M offensive group allowing 13.1 points from turnovers.
However, the biggest reason it will win this game is defense. I’m not talking about a KenPom efficiency rating — which is 79 nationally — I’m talking about playing defense when it matters.
This group did a great job over the final ten minutes against Ohio State and forced 16 turnovers against a careful Iowa State offense. The Aggies lock opponents down, get steals, and average 19.2 points per game from turnovers.
Finally, Virginia beats teams by playing slow, methodical basketball with great defense to support a lousy shooting offense. The Aggies don’t play as slowly as the Cavaliers, but the slower tempo won’t harm them because they are also a below-average offense.
Texas A&M will dominate the boards, chase the Hoos off the 3-point line, and hang around long enough to find a way to beat Virginia down the stretch.
My best bet: Texas A&M moneyline (+100 at bet365)
Texas A&M vs Virginia same-game parlay
Texas A&M moneyline
Virginia team total Under 63.5
Virginia doesn’t shoot well at all from anywhere. It's been getting destroyed on the boards and will be undersized compared to the Aggies. The Cavaliers haven’t scored 63.5 or more in their previous two contests, and I like A&M's length and ability to close out on shooters.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Texas A&M vs Virginia spread and Over/Under analysis
Virginia opened as a -1.5 (-110) favorite, and that number is still available in several U.S. markets. BetRivers, bet365, and Unibet all have -1 (-110) with the same vig for the underdog. The very best number for this game is at FanDuel. The NYC-based bookmaker offers Virginia -0.5 (-118) and Texas A&M +0.5 (-104).
The total opened at 126.5 (-110) and has since bounced around like a ping-pong ball in a popcorn maker. That number is available primarily among the US books; however, some books have 127 (-110) on their boards. FanDuel is the only U.S. sportsbook offering 127.5 with -110 odds on both sides of the line.
Texas A&M vs Virginia betting trend to know
Texas A&M has hit the moneyline in 26 of its last 35 games (+6.90 Units / 4% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas A&M vs. Virginia.
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Texas A&M vs Virginia game info
| Location: | John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA |
| Date: | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 7:15 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
Texas A&M vs Virginia key injuries
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