Texas A&M vs. Kentucky: How to watch, odds, picks, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Kentucky looks to notch its third-straight win over an SEC opponent Saturday afternoon when they host the Texas A&M Aggies inside Rupp Arena. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

How to watch Texas A&M vs. Kentucky

Tip-off: 2 p.m. ET

Location: Rupp Arena — Lexington, Kentucky

Channel: ESPN

Vegas odds

Kentucky is a 4.5-point favorite over Texas A&M on Saturday, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 136.5 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: Kentucky

Predicted point differential: 7.8

Win probability (for Kentucky): 76%

Matchup quality: 82.9

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. ESPN’s BPI has Texas A&M vs. Kentucky ranked as the 12th highest-rated game on Saturday’s slate in terms of matchup quality.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: Kentucky 73, Texas A&M 69

Win probability (for Kentucky): 66%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that Kentucky comes away with a victory over Texas A&M.

More on Texas A&M vs. Kentucky

Texas A&M improved to 13-5 with a win over Florida in the team’s last game. At the very least, there is mutual respect on both ends of the floor.

“This will be the first time since we’ve lived here that we’ve played at Rupp,” Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams said. “We’re excited. Obviously, they’re playing at an incredibly high level over the last seven days and as much flack as Coach [John Calipari] gets, there should be more flowers delivered to him for the job that he does in regard to the mammoth job that Kentucky is. 

“The way that he’s rallied his team, winning in Knoxville, who’s arguably one of the best teams in the country, and then the dominating performance that they had last night, so we’ll have our hands full for sure.”

The Aggies are 13-5 this season and 5-0 in SEC play. Kentucky already spoiled Tennessee’s undefeated start (4-0) to conference play last weekend and will want to continue to play spoiler even though they’re favorites at home. Luckily for Kentucky, Texas A&M is coming off a victory where they scored 52 points – a season-low for the Aggies, well below their 74.9 scoring average.