#10 Texas A&M vs. #2 Houston Picks and Predictions: Round of 32
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Fri Mar 20, 2026, 2:55 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Texas A&M and Houston actually met in the Round of 32 in the 2024 tournament, and here they are again going head to head. Things are much different, as the Aggies have a new head coach, and the Cougars are led by stud freshman Kingston Flemings, but nevertheless, we are in for a thriller. Can Kelvin Sampson will Houston to a victory over Bucky McMillan and Texas A&M? Let's check out our favorite picks and find out!
Check out our March Madness Betting Guide to get in on all the action this month!
Best Bet: Texas A&M +10.5 (-109) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#10 Texas A&M Aggies vs. #2 Houston Cougars NCAA Basketball Insights
Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars take on Bucky McMillan and the Aggies in the Round of 32
As soon as the bracket dropped, this was one of the most anticipated Round of 32 matchups in my eyes. Not only it is a rematch from two years ago, where we saw a 100-95 overtime thriller, but it's also a contest between two differing styles of play. Houston is one of the slowest teams in the nation, relying on their defense to win games. We saw this against Idaho, where they only allowed 47 total to the Vandals.
But the Aggies are much more "run and gun" as they get up and down the court at will. Plus, they pressure teams for the entire length of the court, which could certainly disrupt the guards of Houston. I love the way Bucky McMillan coaches his teams since his days at Samford, and I expect him to give the Cougars a run for their money, forcing them to earn everything all game long.
Matchup Information – Texas A&M vs. Houston – March 21
- Venue & Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
- Kick Off: 6:10 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: TNT
Texas A&M vs. Houston Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 20, 2026 at 2:28 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Texas A&M +10.5 (-109)
- Houston -10.5 (-111)
Moneyline
- Texas A&M +383
- Houston -500
Total
- Over 142 (-110)
- Under 142 (-110)
#10 Texas A&M vs. #2 Houston NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Texas A&M is catching way too many points in this game against Houston
Texas A&M vs. Houston Prediction: Texas A&M Wins Outright, Over 142
Best Bet: Texas A&M +10.5 (-109) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Give me the Aggies to pull off this upset, but I will absolutely be all over catching double digits. Texas A&M just demolished a team that plays exactly like Houston. The Saint Mary's Gaels play extremely slow, efficient offense, and get in your face defensively, but that didn't matter. Texas A&M was able to run up and down the floor and get anything they wanted to offensively. Even though we only saw 113 total points, the Aggies were the much better offense. I think that carries over into this matchup as well.
Sure, Houston's defense is better than the Gaels, but is their offense? I'm not convinced. Plus, the Cougars have struggled against defenses that pressure guards well. Houston lost to Arizona twice, to Kansas and to Iowa State on the road. All of those teams have very good on-ball defenders who will disrupt the offensive rhythm. Without a doubt in my mind, I will take all of those points towards the Aggies in what is a very disrespectful line, and I think Bucky Ball has what it takes to make a run in March, starting with this outright win.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
Also, through our streams and social media channels, you can get even more insight from Nate and other members of the Betting News team, as well as offer your own thoughts and tips for the tournament.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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