Texas A&M Aggies vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Odds, March Madness Analysis, Pick

Oklahoma may be part of this year's Sweet 16, but it has not been doing its financial backers any favors as of late, losing its last seven games in a row against the spread, according to the Odds Shark College Basketball Database.

What might bettors expect when the Sooners meet a former longtime conference rival, the Aggies of Texas A&M, in a West Region semifinal Thursday night in Anaheim?

Point spread: The Sooners opened as two-point favorites; the total was 145, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

March Madness pick, via Odds Shark computer: 77.1-68.0 Aggies

Why pick Texas A&M to cover the spread

It took a miracle to do it, but the Aggies are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007 after outlasting Northern Iowa 92-88 in double overtime Sunday. A&M trailed the Panthers by 12 points with less than a minute to go, but forced four UNI turnovers, tallying a quick dozen points, to force overtime. The Aggies then created space in the second extra period, completing one of the great comebacks in college basketball history.

On the night, A&M shot 44 percent from the floor, held the Panthers to 39 percent shooting and won the battle on the boards 50-39. Two days prior, the Aggies opened the NCAA tournament with a 92-65 victory over Green Bay, shooting 56 percent from the floor, covering as 13-point favorites. A&M is now 10-1 straight up and 8-3 ATS over its last 11 games.

Why pick Oklahoma to cover the spread

The Sooners advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season by holding off Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday 85-81. OU led the Rams by 13 at halftime, fell down by a point with 10 minutes to go, but then used a 9-0 run to reassert control. For the day, Oklahoma shot 48 percent from the field, led by Buddy Hield's 11-for-20 effort, and hit 19 of 25 free throws. Two days before that the Sooners opened the Big Dance with an 82-68 victory over Cal State Bakersfield, shooting 50 percent from the floor.

So after being held below 80 points for 11 games in a row, Oklahoma has hit the mark its last two times out. It sure must be nice having a guy like Hield; the Sooners don't experience many scoring droughts with Hield in the game.

Smart betting pick

Let's face it, A&M is lucky to be here; Northern Iowa had them beat, but for an inbounds play. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is hot offensively, led by one of the great scoring talents of recent memory. So despite their recent ATS woes, the smart money here sides with the Sooners.

March Madness betting trends

Texas A&M is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games against Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games.

The total has gone under in 10 of Oklahoma's last 12 games.

Texas A&M is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, and all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app for iOS or Android.