Texas A&M vs BYU: NCAA Tournament Predictions
Written March 18, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz
The BYU Cougars from the Mountain West conference got an at large bid. This is a team that most people will have losing to A&M because, well, they have never heard of them and must assume they are no good. Wrong, that is quite wrong. BYU is a dangerous team who is well balanced. The Cougars average more points per game, shoot better from both the field and the free throw line and give up less points a game against. They are led by one of the best players in all the land, first team all-conference performer Lee Cummard who averages 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He is a 6′7 guard who has unlimited range as well as a solid post game. BYU is not just carried by Cummard. They have two other major players. Point Guard Jimmer Fredette averages 16 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists per game and combo guard Jonathan Tavernari puts in 16 points and 7 rebounds. BYU averages 77 points per game and only gives up 65 against. They can play at a fast pace or slow it down and make it boring. BYU lost by one point @ Arizona State and lost by seven to Wake Forest in a game they led at half. This is a really good team. Bet the BYU/Texas A&M game with Bookmaker.
The Texas A&M Aggies from the Big-12 conference received an at large bid. Many are a lot higher on this team then I am. They are led by one of the nations top defenders, senior leader Donald Sloan. He averages 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. While Sloan is their leader, Josh Carter and Chinemelu Elonu are their main threats. Carter averages 14 points per game and Elonu puts in 10 points and grabs 8 rebounds a contest. The thing that worries me about The Aggies is they have a tendency to go cold from the field, when they do that their defense is not strong enough to keep them in the game. They did not have an impressive conference record going 9-8. They do have some nice out of conference wins vs Arizona and @ Alabama. They also beat in conference Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma State (all wins were at home). In order for The Aggies to advance and meet Uconn, they will need to be extremely physical. BYU is more talented then them and they have much better natural scorers. If Elonu and Carter of A&M can use their brute force in this game, The Aggies have a real good shot. This will not be an easy task.
Haimo’s Hot Notes: BYU is a better scoring team and the two are very comparable on the defensive end. Texas A&M has one big advantage in this game, pure strength. Elonu will be the key. If he plays well and knocks around BYU’s big men, A&M will have the edge. Just don’t count on that happening. BYU has three players who average 15+ points per game. They do not turn the ball over very often and play very well together. They shoot very well from the outside as well as from the line. The Aggies do not have a third scorer to match The Cougars big three. If BYU gets by here, UConn will have a big hurdle on their hands. That game would be the furthest thing from a blowout. BYU is currently -2. They are better at almost every facet of the game. Lee Cummard will be the star and The Cougars will take down a Big-12 opponent, with rather ease. Here are two trends to chew on, BYU are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Texas A&M are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
BYU is 15-14 ATS this year
Texas A&M is 15-9 ATS this year
Betting Line: BYU -2
Jordan’s Pick: Take BYU -2
Make sure to check out all my South Region articles and predictions.
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