FSU basketball (5-1) has rattled off several non-conference home wins over the past couple of weeks. The lone loss came against the rival Florida Gators from the SEC. The Noles will face their biggest test since the Gators when they face another SEC opponent from the SEC, Texas A&M (5-2).
The Noles opened as small betting favorites on a neutral court at -1.5. The over/under points total is 167.5, according to Fanduel.com.
The game will take place in Tampa, Florida, at the Benchmark International Arena.
Both teams have won their last three games against overmatched opponents. A&M’s two losses came against Oklahoma State and UCF. Both teams average about 93 ppg, but FSU is the better defensive team.
A&M shoots it better overall, from the free-throw line and the three-point line. FSU rebounds slightly better and forces more turnovers on defense.
A&M likes to play a fast pace on both ends, usually aggressive on defense with full-court pressure, looking to force turnovers and score in transition.
Keys To The Game
This is one of those games where FSU must do all of the little things well. They need to limit turnovers, make free throws, and take good shots. Those three aspects will keep them in the game. If FSU takes good shots, makes its share of three-pointers, and creates turnovers that lead to offensive opportunities? That's where they could pull away with the win. FSU will need to crash the boards and limit their offensive opportunities.
Texas A&M mirrors FSU in a lot of ways, and whichever team executes the best will come out on top. This game should be a good measuring stick for FSU as this is the first in a series of tough upcoming games. The game will air on ESPN2 at 5 p.m.