Alabama at Texas A&M basketball: Storylines, odds for primetime meeting of top-10 SEC teams

The SEC looks nothing short of dominant in mens college basketball this season, with six members in the AP Top 10 and nine ranked teams total.

Two of its best go to work in a national spot Saturday night, with Alabama traveling to Texas A&M.

Alabama gets buckets.

It is first in points per game and third in adjusted offensive rating while scoring at least 80 in its last 11 outings.

The Crimson Tide make a fantastic 62.7 percent of their 2-pointers and frequently get to the foul line.

Mark Sears is having a bit of a wonky start, seventh among regulars in true shooting while leading the team in usage rate, but he has been supplemented by the efficient Grant Nelson (12.6 points per game, 54.8 percent from the floor) and Labaron Philon (12.3 on 52.9 percent).

Advertisement Alabama can look a bit clunky from behind the arc sixth in the nation in attempts but 270th in success rate.

Nate Oats squad went just 9-for-29 on treys in last weekends game against Oklahoma, but it hardly mattered in the thorough 107-79 takedown of a previously undefeated opponent.

The Crimson Tide had six players hit double-digit points in that conference opener, while Sears had 10 dimes to zero turnovers.

The Tide followed that up with a 20-point road win at South Carolina, sporting a clean 61 percent effective field goal percentage while forcing 15 turnovers.

The King of Queens #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/nQax6ws2Jz Alabama Mens Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 9, 2025 This game marks the Tides fifth-ranked matchup of the season, and it should be a thoroughly challenging one.

Buzz Williams Aggies will look to fashion a Saturday night rock fight at College Station.

Their top dogs, Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps, shoot below 40 percent from the floor on high volume.

But A&M forces opponents into a misshapen perimeter offense while consistently winning on the glass.

Five players average at least 4.5 rebounds, and Phelps leads the team in steals and defensive rating.

The Aggies have allowed just 59 points in their last seven games and enter Saturday 4-0 in ranked games.

This is the programs highest AP ranking in seven seasons.

In Wednesdays 2-point win at Oklahoma, Phelps was absolutely balling 34 points, six 3-pointers, five rebounds and three steals.

From CJ Moores CBB power rankings: Last years Alabama group shot 37.3 percent from 3, and while this team has topped 40 percent from deep in only three games, youd eventually expect some kind of regression towards the mean ...

Good luck to defenses whenever Sears heats up.

If that happens, the Crimson Tide are a candidate to join the plus-30 club.

Advertisement Memorable matchups: Mar.

12, 2023 Alabama defeated A&M in the SEC Tournament finale, 82-63.

Brandon Miller led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Dec.

13, 2008 The Aggies forced overtime with B.J.

Holmes last-second trey.

It was made possible after Mikhail Torrance missed a free throw.

They won the extra period by eight points.

Alabama at Texas A&M odds (Photo of Wade Taylor IV: Alex Slitz / Getty Images).

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