Texas A&M Aggies at Texas Longhorns
Frank Erwin Special Events Center – Austin, Texas
Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Texas -10
Current Line; Texas -11 1/2
Opening Total: 123 1/2
Current Total: 122 1/2
Opening Money Line: Texas -600 / Texas A&M +475
Current Money Line: Texas -750 / Texas A&M +550
The 9-5 Texas A&M Aggies have gotten off to a slow start in their last year in the Big 12 before leaving for the SEC next season. The Aggies are 0-2 with losses at undefeated Baylor and at Iowa St Saturday 74-50. It doesn’t get any easier for A&M as they travel to Austin to take on arch-rival Texas. The Longhorns are 11-4 overall, and are 1-1 in the Big 12 with a loss at Iowa St and a victory at home over Oklahoma St Saturday 58-49. Texas leads the series against Texas A&M 135-85, including 78-26 in Austin. Texas swept the series 3-0 against A&M last year including 70-58 in the Big 12 tournament last year in Kansas City.
Texas A&M is coached by Billy Kennedy. The Aggies have additional losses to Mississippi St, Florida, and Rice. TAMU has wins over Liberty, Southern, St. John’s, Alcorn St, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston St, and Louisiana-Monroe. The Aggies started off 8-1 but have gone 1-4 since then with the only win in that stretch coming over Arkansas Tech.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. Texas has additional losses to Oregon St, NC State, and North Carolina. The Longhorns have wins over Bradley, Rhode Island, Sam Houston St, North Texas, UCLA, Temple and Rice.
Texas A&M is outscoring opponents 63-58 this season. The Aggies are shooting 43.8% from the field, and 30% from 3 point range. TAMU makes 62.5% of their free throws. The Aggies average 39.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.6. Texas A&M averages 13.4 assists, 14 turnovers, 5.4 steals, and 2.6 blocks a game. Aggie opponents are shooting 36.8% from the field and 27.2% from 3 point range. The Aggies are ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, opponent’s field goal percentage, and opponent’s 3 point percentage. A&M forces 12.2 turn0vers a game.
Texas A&M guard Elston Turner averages 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1 steal a game. Khris Middleton averages 12.6 points, 5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Ray Turner averages 11.4 points, and 6.6 rebound a game to lead the team. David Loubeau averages 10.6 points, and 4.8 rebounds a game. Dash Harris averages 4.2 assists to lead the team and 1.1 steals a game. Keith Davis averages 0.9 blocks a game to lead the team. Forward Kourtney Roberson is out until early next month with an ankle injury.
Texas is outscoring opponents 77-64 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 45% from the field, and 32.3% from 3 point range. Texas makes 71.5% of their free throws. The Longhorns average 38.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4.6. Texas averages 13.4 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 5.4 blocks, and 9.3 steals a game. Texas opponents are shooting 37.7% from the field and 33.7% from 3 point range. The Longhorns force 14.8 turnovers a game.
Texas guard J’Covan Brown averages 18,4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Brown is probable with an ankle injury. Sheldon McClellan averages 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a game. Myck Kabongo averages 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists to lead the team, and 1.3 steals a game. Jonathan Holmes averages 9.3 points, and 5.5 rebounds a game. Julien Lewis averages 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals a game. Clint Chapman averages 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game to lead the Longhorns in both categories.
Texas is 3-7 against the spread and the total is 4-6 this season. Texas A&M is 2-6 ATS and the total is also 2-6 this season. The home team is 14-5-1 ATS in this series recently, and the favorite has covered 4 straight. The Aggies are 8-2 ATS in Wednesday games, 5-2 after a straight up loss by more than 20 points, 35-17 after a straight up loss, 2-5 after a double digit home loss, 1-4 in road games, 1-6 overall, 1-7 against teams with winning records, and 0-4 after failing to cover. The Longhorns are 6-2 ATS in Wednesday games, 2-5 after failing to cover, 2-6 at home, 3-10 overall, 2-7 after a straight up win, 2-8 against teams with winning records, and 1-4 at home against teams with losing road records.
The Aggies are rebuilding this year. Texas isn’t much better and neither of these teams have the talent of Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, or Kansas St. Texas has had the better of their rivals recently, and I look for that trend to continue. Texas should win tonight rather easily.
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