Texas A&M vs. Penn State Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

The 10th-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions (22-13) will try to pull off a first-round NCAA Tournament upset against the No. 7 seed Texas A&M Aggies (25-9) on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. The contest tips off at 9:55 PM on TBS. Penn State is a 2.5-point underdog in the game. Here’s what you need to know before filling out your brackets for this 7-10 matchup in the Midwest Region. The point total is set at 135.5 for the matchup.

Texas A&M vs. Penn State Odds

• Texas A&M odds to win: -155
• Penn State odds to win: +131
• Spread: Texas A&M (-2.5)
• Total: 135.5

Texas A&M vs. Penn State Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
• Time: 9:55 PM ET
• TV: TBS
• Where: Des Moines, Iowa
• Venue: Wells Fargo Arena

Who Will Win Texas A&M vs. Penn State?

Texas A&M and Penn State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games this season it was favored by 2.5 points or more, Texas A&M has a 17-7 record against the spread.

When it has played as at least a 2.5-point underdog this season, Penn State is 9-4 against the spread.

The Aggies and the Nittany Lions combine to average 10 more points per game than the total of 135.5 set for this matchup.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 134.6 points per game, 0.9 fewer than the over/under in this matchup.

Texas A&M’s average point total in matchups this year is 139.4, 3.9 points higher than the total in this game.

The average total in Nittany Lions games this season is 5.2 more points than the point total of 135.5 in this outing.

So far this season, the Aggies have put together a 23-11-0 record against the spread.

The Nittany Lions’ ATS record is 20-14-1 this year.

Texas A&M Stats & Insights

Texas A&M averages 73.2 points per game (139th in college basketball) while allowing 66.2 per outing (65th in college basketball). It has a +239 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by seven points per game.

Texas A&M is 53rd in the country at 34 rebounds per game. That’s 5.4 more than the 28.6 its opponents average.

The Aggies hit 6.1 three-pointers per game (310th in college basketball), two fewer than their opponents (8.1).

Texas A&M records 95.8 points per 100 possessions (125th in college basketball), while allowing 86.6 points per 100 possessions (60th in college basketball).

The Aggies are putting up 73.1 points per game this season when playing at home, which is 0.6 fewer points than they’re averaging away from home (73.7).

Penn State Stats & Insights

Penn State puts up 72.3 points per game (165th in college basketball) while allowing 68.4 per outing (124th in college basketball). It has a +137 scoring differential and outscores opponents by 3.9 points per game.

Penn State records 30.1 rebounds per game (271st in college basketball) while allowing 32.7 per contest to opponents. It is outrebounded by 2.6 boards per game.

Penn State makes 10.4 three-pointers per game (fifth-most in college basketball), 3.1 more than its opponents. It shoots 38.5% from deep (13th in college basketball), and its opponents are shooting 33.3%.

Penn State ranks 21st in college basketball with 101 points scored per 100 possessions, and 287th defensively with 95.5 points conceded per 100 possessions.

The Nittany Lions score 75.9 points per game at home, and 68.4 away.

Texas A&M Key Players to Watch

The Aggies leader in points and assists is Wade Taylor IV, who puts up 16.5 points per game to go with four assists.

Texas A&M’s best rebounder is Dexter Dennis, who averages 5.7 boards per game in addition to his 9.2 PPG average.

The Aggies get the most three-point shooting production out of Taylor, who makes 2.3 threes per game.

Taylor and Dennis lead Texas A&M on the defensive end, with Taylor leading the team in steals averaging 1.8 per game and Dennis in blocks averaging 0.6 per contest.

Penn State Key Players to Watch

Jalen Pickett is atop nearly all of the Nittany Lions’ leaderboards by putting up 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.

Andrew Funk is reliable from distance and leads the Nittany Lions with 2.9 made threes per game.

Pickett (one steal per game) is the steal leader for Penn State while Seth Lundy (0.6 blocks per game) is the block leader.

Texas A&M vs. Penn State Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Texas A&M (-2.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (135.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Texas A&M 71, Penn State 69

How to Bet on Texas A&M vs. Penn State

And for more CBB game previews, NCAA basketball picks or even how to bet on college basketball check out the latest NCAAB lines on Betsperts.