Yale vs. Texas A&M March Madness Preview and Prediction
In the No. 13 vs. No. 4 matchup in the NCAA Tournament South Region, the Yale Bulldogs face the Texas A&M Aggies in first-round action.
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How to Watch Yale vs. Texas A&M
When: 7:25 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20th
Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
Watch: TBS
Odds for Yale vs. Texas A&M
(odds current at time of publish)
Spread: Texas A&M -7.5 (-110), Yale +7.5 (-110)
Total: Over 140.5 (-110), Under 140.5 (-110)
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Yale vs. Texas A&M Preview & Prediction
The stage is set for an intriguingmatchup between the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies and the No. 13 Yale Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament. This clash of contrasting styles promises to be a compelling battle between the SEC’s physical presence and the Ivy League’s sharp-shooting efficiency.
Texas A&M enters the tournament as a defensive powerhouse with a glaring offensive weakness. The Aggies boast the nation’s top offensive rebounding team, which allows them to get to the free-throw line frequently. However, their shooting woes are significant, ranking in the bottom 20 nationally in both 2-point and 3-point field goal percentage. Also, no team has had a higher percentage of their shots blocked, highlighting their struggles in the paint.
Despite these offensive struggles, A&M’s strong defense and rebounding have earned them a favorable seed, though questions linger about their ability to make a deep run. Last year, they were similarly stout on defense but fell short in the second round against Houston in a high-scoring overtime thriller. This year’s team faces a more favorable second-round matchup, but their shooting issues remain a major concern.
On the other side, Yale comes in riding high after clinching their fourth Ivy League Tournament title in five years. The Bulldogs have proven to be giant-killers in recent tournaments, upsetting Auburn last year and pushing Purdue in a high-scoring affair earlier this season. Yale’s strength lies in their efficient offense, shooting over 38% from beyond the arc for the first time under head coach James Jones.
Yale also excels at taking care of the ball, making a high percentage of 2-point shots, rebounding well, and playing good defense without fouling. This disciplined approach has been key to their success in the Ivy League, where they dominated the regular season and navigated tough tournament games against Princeton and Cornell. Their experience in big games and ability to adapt to different opponents make them a formidable opponent.
The matchup presents an interesting contrast: A&M’s physical, defensive style against Yale’s sharp-shooting, disciplined offense. The Aggies’ interior presence and rebounding prowess could pose problems for the smaller Bulldogs lineup. However, Yale’s ability to stretch the floor with their 3-point shooting might challenge A&M’s perimeter defense. The 3-point line should ultimately be the X-factor. If Yale gets hot, A&M is in trouble. But A&M has been stingy against non-conference opponents, holding them to just 28.8% from 3.
If the Aggies can maintain the defensive intensity and control the boards, they should overcome their own shooting deficiencies and advance to the second round, where an interesting matchup against either Michigan or UC San Diego awaits. However, Yale’s experience in upsetting stronger opponents and their well-rounded game plan give them a legitimate chance to pull off an upset. There’s a reason the Aggies aren’t double-digit favorites.
Estimated Score: Texas A&M 74.3, Yale 66
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