Texas A&M vs. Alabama: Preview, prediction, TV schedule

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Avery Johnson of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the first half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on December 9, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Crimson Tide 88-82. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Texas A&M Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a game between two teams heading in opposite directions. Can Bama turn their season around against the top five Aggies?

TV Schedule: Saturday, Dec. 30, 6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arena: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

We knew the Texas A&M Aggies would be good coming into the 2017-18 college basketball season, but did anyone expect them to really be this good?

Heading into SEC play, the Aggies have just one loss on the season to the Arizona Wildcats, a team that was top five in the country heading into the season. The Aggies have looked unstoppable at times, even when some of their key players have not been available.

Like Arizona, Alabama will find themselves in close to a must-win situation against the Aggies. The Crimson Tide have gone from a popular pick to be the sleeper team in the SEC to having lost four of their last seven games. Alabama looked really good to start the season but have found themselves making bad decisions at key moments in the game and unable to defend on the inside.

Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, Texas A&M excels at the inside game and should dominate Alabama. Tyler Davis should have a monster game with the Crimson Tide unable to stop him, although I think the Aggies’ perimeter players have a tougher time of it against Alabama’s stifling defense.

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Time is running out for Alabama to get back on track. Hopefully, they can fix this soon.

Prediction: Texas A&M 70, Alabama 58

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