One of the more intriguing matchups of the opening slate comes from Orlando, Florida, as the Texas A&M Aggies take on the UCF Knights at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Buzz Williams’ group won 20 games for the third straight campaign before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, Johnny Dawkins and UCF surprised people in their first season in the Big 12, finishing one game above .500 while beating Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas in the process.
The Aggies are -4.5 on the spread with the moneyline currently sitting at -192. Also, the total checks in at 145.
Here’s my Texas A&M vs. UCF predictions and my college basketball picks for Monday.
Texas A&M vs UCF Prediction
My pick: Texas A&M -3.5
My Texas A&M vs UCF best bet is on the Aggies spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Texas A&M vs UCF Odds, Lines, Pick
| Texas A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | -200 |
| UCF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | +165 |
- Texas A&M vs UCF spread: Texas A&M -5
- Texas A&M vs UCF total: 144.5 points
- Texas A&M vs UCF moneyline: Texas A&M -200, UCF +165
- Texas A&M vs UCF best bet: Texas A&M -3.5
Spread
I'm targeting the Aggies on the spread on the road at UCF.
Moneyline
I'll go with the Aggies on the spread rather than the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm avoiding the total for this particular game.
My pick: Texas A&M -3.5 (Play to -5)
Texas A&M vs UCF Betting Trends to Know
- 60% of the bets are on UCF to cover the spread, while 82% of the money is on A&M ATS.
- 96% of the bets and 94% of the money is on the over.
Texas A&M vs UCF Start Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, FL |
| Date: | Monday, November 4 |
| Start Time: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
Texas A&M vs UCF is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start time, live from Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Monday. The game is live on ESPN+.
Texas A&M vs UCF College Basketball Betting Preview
Texas A&M Basketball
It almost seems like a Texas A&M speciality for the Aggies to start out slow and fail to meet expectations before going on a massive run late in the season to reach the NCAA Tournament.
In 2022-23, the Aggies were 8-5 entering SEC play before ripping off 17 wins in 21 games to make the Big Dance as an eight seed.
Last season, the Aggies lost five straight in the league to drop to 15-13. They then notched five consecutive victories, including a 97-point performance against No. 9 Kentucky to earn a nine seed.
Like those two previous campaigns, the Aggies once again have high expectations. In fact, at No. 13 in the AP Poll and with seven of their top eight scorers back, their celling is as high as it’s ever been under Williams.
It all starts with Wade Taylor IV, who averaged nearly 20 points per game last season and is expected to be one of the best players in the country in 2024-25.
It’s far from a one-man show, though. Henry Coleman III returns — alongside Manny Obaseki, Andersson “Dominican Rodman” Garcia and other veterans — and Williams plucked Pharrel Payne from Minnesota to help around the rim and CJ Wilcher from Nebraska to provide knockdown shooting.
Overall, the formula for the Aggies is going to be the same as always: let Taylor score the basketball at a high clip, play tough defense and be physical on the glass.
If the Aggies stay healthy (something they failed to do last season), they’re expected to not only contend for an SEC title but a spot in the Final Four.
UCF Basketball
There were zero expectations for UCF entering its first year in the Big 12. The Knights were projected to finish last in the conference, according to the preseason coaches poll, and had to play Kansas in their second-ever game in the league.
This season, the tide has turned as the Knights could be a sleeper team in the Big 12.
While everyone drools over Kansas, Baylor, Houston, Arizona and Iowa State, the Knights bring back their two leading scorers — Jaylin Sellers and Darius Johnson — and add multiple impact transfers in Jordan Ivy-Curry (UTSA), Benny Williams (Syracuse), Keyshawn Hall (George Mason) and Dallan Coleman (Georgia Tech).
That doesn’t mean the Knights are going to compete with those five schools atop the league, but they should be more formidable than the national media makes them out to be.
Dawkins is a terrific head coach, and I didn’t even mention the depth and upside the two top-50 freshmen — Mikey Williams and Moustapha Thiam — bring to the table.
The frontcourt is unproven, especially at a Big 12 level, but if Hall can make waves as an undersized big, Thiam shows some potential in short stretches and Benny Williams plays strong defense with his length, this will be a bubble team.
Texas A&M vs UCF Betting Analysis
If you couldn't tell by now, I’m a big fan of the Knights’ roster this season. They have a strong one-two punch in the backcourt with Sellers and Johnson, excellent coaching and upside throughout their lineup.
While the Knights will have plenty of chances for quality wins during the Big 12 schedule, this is a perfect chance to prove themselves against a high-quality opponent early in the season.
Despite that — and a home crowd that should be rocking in Orlando — I’m actually going to take the Aggies here. A&M is experienced and tough and its frontcourt is proven. UCF is still a work in progress in the paint, which likely means the Aggies will have a huge advantage on the boards and around the rim.
Also, does UCF really have anyone that can successfully stop Taylor? That’s a negative, especially because very few teams do.
With what’s played out the last two seasons, I’d bet that Buzz Williams is preaching a strong start, and I think the Aggies get in and out of Orlando with an impressive victory that will ultimately look better and better as the season progresses.
