Expert prediction
NCAA First Round: Texas A&M vs Saint Mary’s Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 19)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Aggies make their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 18th overall.
- The Gaels earned a share of the WCC regular-season title.
- This marks the third all-time matchup between the two programs.
The late hours of the March 19 slate will have high quality basketball when the Saint Mary’s Gaels face the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The former stands out as the slight favorite, presenting a remarkable duel to see who gets to the second round.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, March 19, 7:35 pm ET
- Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- How to Watch: truTV
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | -110 | +3 | O 148.5 |
| Saint Mary’s | -110 | -3 | U 148.5 |
Game Preview
The Aggies (21-11) clinched an At-Large bid to March Madness despite falling to Oklahoma in the second round of the SEC Tournament. They rank No. 9 in the country in scoring offense with 88.7 points per game and sit in 15th knocking down 10.8 3-pointers per game. They also rank second nationally and sit atop the conference in scoring 35.6 bench points per game. They have six players averaging double digits in scoring, led by starting big man Rashaun Agee as he produces 14.7 PPG. The Aggies also hoist nearly 30 3-point attempts per game, with Rylen Griffen, Ruben Dominguez and Zach Clemence converting at 40% or better from beyond the arc.
The Gaels (27-5) were excellent in conference play as they secured an At-Large bid to the Big Dance. They claimed their fourth straight West Coast Conference regular season title but fell 76-71 to Santa Clara in the opening round of the conference tournament. Paulius Murauskas leads the attack with averages of 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. On another note, Mikey Lewis looks to be active on the perimeter with 14.2 points and 2.8 rebounds while making 67 3-pointers on a 37.2% clip.
Texas A&M vs Saint Mary’s Head-to-Head
The two programs have had two meetings in their history, and the result is 1-1 for both teams. The most recent matchup was in December 1995 when Texas A&M won 83-55 at home.
Texas A&M vs Saint Mary’s Predictions
The winner of this matchup will square off with the winner of Idaho and Houston in the Round of 32 on Saturday. Texas A&M boasts the offense that will give trouble to Saint Mary’s throughout the course of the game. However, Saint Mary’s has the two-way capabilities that can give them the overall edge, especially if Paulius Murauskas and Mikey Lewis deliver strong performances in the evening. Our betting pick here is for the Gaels to cover a 3-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Saint Mary’s Gaels -3
NCAAB
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