Auburn vs. Texas A&M: Picks, Predictions and Odds

After reaching a season-high ranking of No. 7 in the country on Monday, February 17, Texas A&M is on a nightmarish skid to end the regular season, and is now fighting to secure a favorable seeding in postseason tournaments.

The Aggies have lost four straight games, including two at home, and now must contend with the nation's top team in No. 1 Auburn. The Tigers have already clinched the SEC regular-season title and enter this contest on a six-game winning streak.

A&M (20-9, 9-7 SEC) sits in a precarious position within the conference standings, currently tied for sixth but with the potential to rise as high as fifth or fall as low as 10th depending on the final two games of the season. The Aggies have one more contest at LSU after this before heading into postseason play, while Auburn (27-2, 15-1 SEC) closes its regular-season schedule with a home game against No. 7 Alabama.

The Aggies will be playing with urgency as they look to snap their skid, while Auburn will aim to keep its momentum rolling into March.

Auburn vs. Texas A&M College betting picks and predictions

Texas A&M +5 (-110)

Auburn is undoubtedly the better team on paper, with both its offense (No. 1 in KenPom) and defense (No. 10 in KenPom) ranking among the elite. However, Texas A&M's struggles over the past four games may be misleading.

The Aggies' defensive efficiency has dipped to 84th nationally during this stretch, and their offensive turnover rate has climbed to a concerning 20.8% (331st in the country). Their strength all season has been offensive rebounding, where they typically dominate, but they've slipped to 40th in that category in recent weeks.

The key for A&M in this game will be generating second-chance points and getting to the free-throw line. Despite their struggles, the Aggies still rank No. 1 in offensive rebounding rate and near the top in free throw attempts, and Auburn has been an average defensive rebounding team and extremely foul-prone – ranking 352nd in opponent free throw attempts per game since February 18. That opens the door for A&M to control the tempo and put pressure on Auburn's defense.

Senior point guard Wade Taylor is the X-factor. He has struggled with efficiency during the losing streak, shooting 30% or worse in each of the last four games, but remains the Aggies' leader at 15.1 points and 4.6 assists per game. We have seen him play his best when the lights are brightest throughout his career, and now he has one final crack at home. 

Auburn typically has the best and most productive player on the floor in National Player of the Year candidate, Johni Broome, but A&M's roster is full of big-bodied physical forwards that can make Broome uncomfortable in the paint.

Broome is coming off an atypical 9-point, 6-rebound performance at Kentucky, and after suffering an ankle injury earlier this season, he may be less inclined and unable to get back to his sensational ways against an A&M defense that almost exclusively forces 3-point attempts. 

Auburn's offensive depth and elite perimeter shooting (37.1% – 16th nationally), however, mean that Broome isn't solely relied upon, but in a raucous road environment against a team we know has the caliber of a top 10 squad in the country, it does tilt the scales if A&M can take him away or limit him.

Texas A&M has all the motivation in the world to come out strong in this game. It's senior night, and eight of their 10-man rotation are seniors or super seniors.

Auburn has already locked up the SEC regular-season title and could take its foot off the gas slightly in a physical matchup where avoiding injuries may take priority.

Over 151 (-110)

Despite Texas A&M's recent offensive woes, the total going over 151 points looks like a strong bet.

Both teams play with tempo, and both rank in the top 50 in free-throw attempts per game, meaning there should be plenty of stoppages and scoring opportunities with the clock halted.

Auburn's offense has been firing on all cylinders lately, averaging 94 points per game over its last three contests. Even in their win over No. 19 Kentucky on Saturday, where Broome had quiet output, Auburn still put up 94 points thanks to a season-high 30 from Miles Kelly, who buried 9 of the team's 12 three-pointers.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, has been inefficient offensively, particularly inside the arc, but Auburn's defense inside the paint is a weak spot. The Aggies will need to attack the rim and crash the boards, which should lead to a mix of easy second-chance buckets and fouls drawn.

Additionally, Auburn ranks 16th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage (37%), and Texas A&M allows the seventh highest three-point attempt rate in the country. If Auburn gets hot from deep, the total could clear 151 comfortably.

Given Auburn's offensive firepower and A&M's ability to get to the free-throw line, expect a high-scoring affair that pushes this total over.

Read more College Basketball Picks & Predictions on site.

Auburn vs. Texas A&M odds

Auburn	-220 ML
Texas A&M	+180 ML
Spread	Auburn -5
Total Points	O/U 151

Read Auburn vs. Texas A&M: How to watch, TV Channel, streaming start time, injury report and stats on site

Read the latest College Sports news on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.