SEC Basketball Predictions: Texas A&M/Savannah State, LSU/Houston, and more

Every SEC team has now suffered defeat as Mississippi State lost its first game of the year on Tuesday in an unimpressive performance at Cincinnati.

However, the league still sits in good shape as we get closer and closer to the start of conference play in late December.

There are only three games on today’s schedule, with only one of those figuring to be close.

As always, my predictions are based on team analysis and who I think will win. Score projections are for my own amusement.

Let’s get to the picks.

Season Predictions Record (straight up): 103-20

Savannah State (3-8) at No. 9 Texas A&M (8-1) – 8 PM EST, SEC Network+

For the unaware, Savannah State plays at the fastest tempo of any team in college basketball.

The average offensive possession length for the Tigers is 11.8 seconds, and they lead the nation with 435 3-point attempts through 11 games.

While that looks good on paper, a few other stats show why Savannah State is 3-8 overall:

  • The Tigers play the ninth toughest non-conference schedule in the nation
  • They have given up 102 points or more in six games
  • They rank 349th nationally with a -12.7 rebounding margin

Meanwhile, the Aggies are ranked ninth in the country and have already beaten West Virginia, USC, Penn State, and Oklahoma State.

I think you know how this one will go.

Prediction: Texas A&M 102, Savannah State 68

Sam Houston State (5-4) at Ole Miss (4-4) – 8 PM EST, SEC Network+

The Rebels desperately need a win after suffering their third straight defeat last weekend at MTSU.

The good news is that this is a good spot to grab an elusive win since four of Sam Houston State’s five wins have come against non-Division I competition.

It has been a struggle for the Bearkats on the offensive end of the floor, and that’s not ideal against an Ole Miss squad whose biggest strength is scoring.

The angry Rebels should get back on track in a big way.

Prediction: Ole Miss 85, Sam Houston State 65

Houston (8-1) at LSU (5-2) – 9 PM EST, SEC Network (Game Preview)

Easily the game of the night in the SEC, with the Tigers aiming to slow down the red-hot Cougars.

Kelvin Sampson’s squad has been on a tear since losing to Drexel in game two of the season, and they’ve done so by shooting the ball very well.

Houston ranks 45th in the nation in shooting 49.0 percent from the floor and ranks 17th overall from the 3-point line, with the Cougars shooting 41.8 percent.

Of course, LSU has been just as good on offense. Will Wade’s team is third in the nation in field-goal percentage (53.6 percent) and is shooting an incredible 63.7 percent from inside the arc.

The matchup to watch will be Houston’s Rob Gray (21.6 pts, 3.5 assts) against LSU’s Tremont Waters (18.3 pts, 6.4 assts). These two will undoubtedly put on a show, but it’ll be what happens around them that determines the outcome of the game.

The Tigers are still working through issues on defense, while the Cougars have defended very well, which included holding Arkansas to 65 points in a 26-point blowout win.

However, I get a sense that LSU is up for this challenge.

Winning will be all about defense for the Waters and company, and I think they find enough stops down the stretch to pull out a narrow victory.

Prediction: LSU 81, Houston 79

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