Julian Edlow provides his preview, prediction, and pick for Thursday’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M College Basketball prediction, preview
Oklahoma got off to a terrible start in SEC play, going 1-9 in its first 10 games. Since then, the Sooners have won seven of nine, and with their win over South Carolina on Wednesday in the SEC Tournament, enter Thursday on a five-game winning streak. The Sooners have been live dogs during their hot streak, with four wins as underdogs and two wins as a short 1.5-point favorite.
The last loss for Oklahoma? That happened to come against this Texas A&M team, setting up revenge in the SEC Tournament. The Aggies have been going in the opposite direction, losing six of 10 and going 3-6 ATS over their last nine. Texas A&M does come into the tournament off a couple wins, but the most recent was a marathon, going to triple overtime with an LSU team that finished last place in the conference.
Oklahoma has an elite offense ranking 20th on KenPom in efficiency, but the defense has been the issue this season. That said, the Sooners have improved on the defensive end during their hot streak. The full season numbers just don’t tell the story when it comes to the direction these two teams are going in. I’ll play on the hot Sooners as short underdogs.
CBB Pick: Oklahoma +1.5 (-108)