Penn State vs Texas A&M March Madness Preview and Prediction

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Penn State vs. Texas A&M: March Madness Preview and Prediction

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. The opening round will feature a matchup between the No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies and the Penn State Nittany Lions. The game is scheduled for March 16, 2023, at 9:55 p.m. EDT, and it will be held in Des Moines, Iowa. In this article, we will analyze both teams and provide expert picks and parlays for this exciting March Madness matchup.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a record of 22-13, going 10-10 in the Big Ten Conference. They managed to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament with some impressive wins towards the end of the season, including a 78-75 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament. The Nittany Lions will be looking to carry that momentum into the opening round of March Madness.

Offense:

Penn State's offense is averaging 72.3 points per game, ranking 136th in the nation. They have been outscored by their opponents in terms of points per game, with an average score margin of +3.9. The team's shooting efficiency is solid, with an effective field goal percentage of 55.5%, which is 12th in the nation.

Shooting:

The Nittany Lions' shooting statistics are impressive. They have a three-point percentage of 38.5%, which is 9th in the country. Their two-point percentage is 53.5%, and their shooting percentage is 46.4%. Penn State ranks 19th in shooting efficiency, with a value of 1.151.

Defense:

Defensively, Penn State has been average this season, allowing opponents to score an average of 68.4 points per game, ranking 115th in the country. Their opponents have outscored them by an average score margin of -3.9. However, their effective field goal percentage allowed is 49.3%, which is 115th in the nation.

Rebounding:

The Nittany Lions have struggled on the boards this season, averaging 32.6 total rebounds per game, which is 278th in the country. Their offensive rebound percentage is 17.3%, which is 359th in the nation, and their defensive rebound percentage is 76.1%, which is 73rd in the country.

Texas A&M Aggies

The Texas A&M Aggies finished the regular season with a record of 25-9, going 15-3 in the Southeastern Conference. They had some impressive wins throughout the season, including a 73-68 victory over Alabama in the SEC Tournament. The Aggies will be looking to build on their success and make a deep run in March Madness.

Offense:

Texas A&M's offense is averaging 68.8 points per game, ranking 226th in the nation. However, they have managed to outscore their opponents by an average score margin of +3.9.

he team's shooting efficiency is slightly lower than Penn State's, with an effective field goal percentage of 52.7%, which is 57th in the nation.

Shooting:

The Aggies' shooting statistics are solid but not outstanding. They have a three-point percentage of 34.1%, which is 197th in the country. Their two-point percentage is 52.9%, and their shooting percentage is 44.2%. Texas A&M ranks 77th in shooting efficiency, with a value of 1.113.

Defense:

Defensively, Texas A&M has been very strong this season, allowing opponents to score an average of only 64.9 points per game, which is 32nd in the country. Their opponents have been outscored by an average score margin of -3.9. They have also held their opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 46.7%, which is 60th in the nation.

Rebounding:

The Aggies have been dominant on the boards this season, averaging 39.7 total rebounds per game, which is 3rd in the country. Their offensive rebound percentage is 34.7%, which is 22nd in the nation, and their defensive rebound percentage is 74.5%, which is 140th in the country.

Expert Picks and Parlays:

Penn State and Texas A&M are fairly evenly matched in this opening round matchup. Both teams have solid shooting percentages, but Penn State has an advantage in three-point shooting. Texas A&M has a stronger defense and rebounding game, which could give them the edge.

When it comes to the odds, according to Vegas Insider, Texas A&M is currently favored to win by 2.5 points, with an over/under of 140.5 points. However, these odds could change leading up to the game.

In terms of expert picks and parlays, it is a tough call. But we give a slight edge to Texas A&M to come out on top in this matchup. Their strong defense and rebounding game could be the difference-maker in a close game. But it is important to note that March Madness is unpredictable, and anything could happen in this exciting tournament.

Final Prediction:

Texas A&M 72, Penn State 68.

Pick: Texas A&M -2.5