College basketball on Thursday and we will see the Florida Gators travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN 2. Currently the odds for the game have Florida favored by 9 points while the total sits at 122.5. Check out Sportsbook Spy to see who the Public is taking on all of today's games.
Free Analysis: Billy Donovan's Gators are an impressive 12-2 on the season with the two losses coming against now nationally-ranked opponents on the road in Arizona and Kansas State. The team has since posted four straight wins, including both league bouts with lopsided victories over Georgia (77-44) and most recently, LSU (74-52). The Gators could use a couple weeks off to heal up, but they will have to follow up the A&M test with a game against No. 16 Missouri at home Saturday afternoon. Regulars Erik Murphy, Will Yeguete and Scottie Wilbekin have been playing with injuries and reserve Casey Prather is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. Kenny Boynton leads a balanced offense, averaging 13.8 points, while Rosario (12.3), Murphy (12.0) and Patric Young (11.1) also score in double figures. In terms of scoring punch, the team averages a modest 73.6 ppg. Florida is one of the top defensive teams in the country this season, ranking third nationally in scoring defense (52.0 ppg) and eighth in field-goal percentage defense (.365). The Gators have also enjoyed a +8.8 rebounding margin.
Billy Kennedy's Aggies have followed a similar path with 12 wins in their first 15 games. Texas A&M also boasts of a current four-game win streak, topping both Arkansas (69-51) and defending national champion Kentucky (83-71) in SEC play. Elston Turner was named National Player of the Week after his 40-point explosion, including six 3-pointers, in the 83-71 victory against Kentucky. Turner became the first Aggies player to score at least 40 in a game since Don Marbury registered 41 in 1985, and raised his scoring average to 17.1 – third in the SEC. He certainly can’t do it alone. Ray Turner averages 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Fabyon Harris shoots 43.5 percent from 3-point range and is third in scoring (10.5). Texas A&M, which struggled a bit on the boards during the non-conference part of the schedule, has outrebounded its first two opponents in SEC play 86-57. The Aggies have also thrived with strong defensive play, holding opponents to a mere 59.4 ppg and an even .400 shooting. Texas A&M’s next victory will be the 1,300th in its history.
Free Pick: I will look to the Over in this one. Texas A&M does like a slower paced game, but still their last 5 games have averaged 124 ppg, while their home games have put up 126.3 ppg. Florida does not like slow paced game, but because they play great defense their games are lower scoring. Still their games have averaged 125.6 ppg overall and 127.7 ppg on the road. Florida averages 72.2 ppg on the road, while the Aggies put in 68.9 ppg at home. We should be able to squeeze out at least 125 points from these two offenses in this one.
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