ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
With SEC Test Ahead, No. 13 Texas A&M Faces Abilene Christian
No. 13 Texas A&M aims to fine-tune its game ahead of the challenging Southeastern Conference slate when it hosts Abilene Christian on Saturday in College Station, Texas.
Aggies Building Momentum with Six-Game Streak
The Aggies (10-2) enter the matchup on a six-game winning streak, featuring five victories over power conference opponents and four wins on neutral courts. Their latest triumph, a 77-45 rout of Houston Christian on Dec. 20, demonstrated their depth and resilience despite the absence of star guard Wade Taylor IV.
Catch the Latest Free College Basketball Picks! See free college basketball picks for today’s matchups.
Taylor, Texas A&M’s leading scorer at 16 points per game, sat out with an injury sustained against Purdue on Dec. 14, marking the first game he has missed in his college career.
“He’s never missed a practice,” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “I didn’t like it at all. Very uncomfortable. We’re very reliant on his talent, for sure. His leadership is as good as I’ve been around in my career.”
In Taylor’s absence, Hayden Hefner stepped up with a game-high 19 points in his fifth start of the season. Manny Obaseki added 13 points and four assists, helping the Aggies shake off a slow first half before dominating after the break.
The Aggies shot 54.8 percent from the field in the second half, including 42.9 percent from 3-point range, and grabbed 26 rebounds to put the game out of reach.
“It speaks to our maturity to how we responded in the second half,” Obaseki said. “Just coming out there strong, playing hard and playing together.”
Offensive Rebounding Sets Aggies Apart
Texas A&M’s dominance on the offensive glass has been a key to its success this season. The Aggies lead the nation with 17.2 offensive rebounds per game, a statistic Williams attributes to the team’s identity.
“It’s been the niche that we’ve been able to create that gives us a chance to have a chance,” Williams said.
Final Tune-Up Before SEC Play
This game marks Texas A&M’s final nonconference matchup before opening its SEC schedule against rival Texas on Jan. 4. Williams designed a rigorous nonconference schedule to prepare his team for the challenges ahead, with the Aggies boasting five NET Quad 1 or Quad 2 wins, a key metric for NCAA Tournament selection.
Want To Boost Your Wins?
Join Today And Gain Access To Proven Strategies
Abilene Christian Looks to Keep Rolling
Abilene Christian (8-5) enters Saturday’s contest after a 69-65 victory over Texas Southern. Leonardo Bettiol led the Wildcats with 22 points, while Quion Williams added 21, including two game-sealing free throws in the final seconds.
The Wildcats have won four of their last six games and are looking to continue their upward trajectory. However, their lone game against a power conference team this season resulted in an 88-57 loss at Baylor on Dec. 9.
“I kept telling our guys, ‘Did we get better? Did we learn from that game?’ And we did,” Abilene Christian coach Brette Tanner said. “We fought through. I’m really proud of the guys for finding a way to step up and win.”
Series History
Texas A&M has dominated the all-time series, holding a 7-0 record against Abilene Christian. The most recent meeting was a 77-58 Aggies victory in November 2022. Saturday’s game provides another opportunity for Texas A&M to solidify its momentum before diving into the rigors of SEC play.
