Texas A&M Aggies vs. Utah State Aggies Betting Odds

Opening Line: Texas A&M -3 / Utah State +3 O/U 128.5

Time: 4:45 PM EST Friday March 19, 2010 on CBS

In a 1st round match up in the South Region of a couple of teams that share the same name the 5th seed Texas A&M Aggies face the 12th seed Utah State Aggies. Texas A&M came in 2nd place in the Big 12 this season and was the runner-up in the conference tournament. Utah State won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) this season, but lost in the conference tourney final. That loss not only snapped Utah State's 17 game winning streak, but also cost them a higher seed in the Big Dance.

This season Texas A&M is 18-10 ATS and Utah State is 20-10 ATS.

In their last games each lost in their conference tourney final, as Texas A&M lost to Kansas 79-66 and Utah State lost to New Mexico State 69-63.

These 2 teams share the same name, but they have very contrasting styles.

Texas A&M is led by their backcourt guard duo of leading scorer Donald Sloan (18.2 ppg) and Derrick Roland (10.5 ppg). These 2 have to shoot the rock well in this game, as they do not have much of an inside presence.

Utah State is led by their frontcourt with leading scorer F Tai Wesley (13.6 ppg) and Nate Bendall (10.4 ppg).

Even though Texas A&M is favored in this game they are averaging fewer points per game this season and giving up more points per game.

Utah State has one of the best defensive teams in the NCAA tournament, as they are only giving up an average of 59.6 ppg.

The Texas A&M frontcourt duo of Bryan Davis (9.5 ppg 7.9 rpg) and David Loubeau (9 ppg 4.6 rpg) are both good rebounders and they have to play well on the glass against Utah State's Wesley (6.6 rpg), G Jared Quayle (6.3 rpg), and Bendall (5.4 rpg).

Utah State only played one team that is ranked in the top 25 and even though they won that game they will be facing a Texas A&M team that played a killer schedule facing 11 teams this season that are playing in the Big Dance.

Betting Trends

Texas A&M is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite, and has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 non-conference games.

Utah State is 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games, and has an Under record of 5-2 in their last 7 games.

Our Selection : Take Utah State +3