Texas A&M-CC vs. Texas Southern March Madness Betting Prediction 3/15/22

Two conference champions from Texas are battling for the right to face Kansas in the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament. Texas A&M-CC is more of the surprising participant after rising from the fourth seed in the Southland Conference to capture the tournament crown and the automatic bid. Texas Southern was only a game behind the champion in the SWAC and its non-conference schedule prepared the Tigers to capture the league's bid to the tournament. 

This game will be played at UD Arena at 6:40 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Why bet on the Islanders:

✅ Texas Southern does not have one true superstar who is going to take that final shot for the Tigers, and though that isn't necessary, the scoring has been sporadic. It does make it difficult on opposing teams to figure out who has the hot hand that day, but the unpredictability also means it's going to take some time to figure out which player is in a rhythm with everyone cycling in and out of a groove weekly for the Tigers.

✅ Simeon Fryer was a gamechanger for Texas A&M-CC during the Southland tournament, averaging more than 14 points per game to solidify the Islanders' spot in the NCAA Tournament. He's had some down moments during the season, but at his best he can shoot the lights out from the perimeter and open the floor for his teammates. He was 9 of 16 from long range in the Islanders' quarterfinals and semifinals victory combined.

✅ Turnovers have been a problem for Texas Southern at times this season, which is why it averaged 14.6 per game during conference play. It has had at least 12 turnovers in 24 of 30 games this season and four times had more than 20 in a game. Texas A&M-CC averages 16.5 takeaways per game and made life hard on several Power Five teams during the regular season. 

✅ Texas A&M-CC faced a lot of 3-pointers this season, but held teams to just 31 percent shooting from behind the arc. Despite not owning many blocks, the Islanders have dominated the interior by affecting shots and dominating the glass, forcing teams to the perimeter. However, most teams struggled to hit 33 percent of their 3-pointers against the Islanders' defense.

✅ The Islanders are 12-2 all-time against the SWAC, including a 2-1 mark against Texas Southern. The Tigers are appearing in the opening round for the fifth time and are 2-2 in their previous four matchups.

Sometimes when it comes to the low-major conferences, it's not about how you start the season, but how you finish it. That was certainly the case for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which won four of its last five regular-season games then swept through the Southland Conference Tournament to capture the automatic bid. The Islanders were in control in all three tournament games, taking down the top-two seeds as the fourth seed to earn their second trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history.

The Islanders' offense certainly heated up at the right moment, shooting at least 46 percent in four of its last five games and 42.5 percent in the other contest. Texas A&M-CC averaged more than 74 points per game in conference contests and more than 76 points per game overall on the season. The Islanders held all three opponents to less than 38 percent shooting in the conference tournament, but teams shot 42 percent from the field against the Islanders during Southland action.

Isaac Mushila is the player to watch for the Islanders after averaging a double-double during conference play for the team. Mushila averaged 13.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game during the Southland regular season, slightly better than his 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the entire season. Trevian Tennyson averaged 13 points per game for Texas A&M-CC while Terrion Murdix led the team with more than three assists per game in addition to averaging 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. De'Lazarus Keys, though, averaged nearly eight rebounds per game as well to add some strength to the frontcourt.

As it does nearly every year, Texas Southern hit the road for the entire non-conference schedule, and is a battle-tested group. This is the fifth time the Tigers have been forced to play an opening-round matchup in their history, so they are no strangers to having to play in Dayton behind the round of 64 even begins. The season really turned around for Texas Southern in Florida when it upset the Gators, starting an 18-5 close to the season that included yet another SWAC title.

Texas Southern clearly wins games with its defense, holding teams to less than 40 percent shooting overall this season. The Tigers have also limited opponents to less than 30 percent 3-point shooting to help counteract their own 31.7 percent shooting from behind the arc. They are shooting slightly less than 44 percent for the season, but average less than 70 points per game while holding foes to 65.5 points per contest.

No Texas Southern player is averaging at least 10 points per game, instead grinding out games with eight players averaging at least six points per contest. John Walker III is the team's leading scorer at 9.9 points per game while Joirdon Karl Nicholas is adding 9.2 points and six rebounds per contest. Brison Gresham is the team's leading rebounder at 6.8 boards per game but ranks fifth in scoring at 7.2 points per game.