#7 Texas A&M (10-3) at #12 Illinois (6-3) – 1pm est/12pm cst – Texas A&M comes into this one having dropped three in a row after starting 10-0 while Illinois has split its last four though it dropped two of three during the National Indoors. As has been the case all season, Illinois has been relying on the top of its lineup to get it done with the bottom struggling to come through. The doubles point is going to be essential for the Illini because without it I really don’t see them winning.
Doubles record: Illinois 5-4 (4-0 at home), Texas A&M 11-2 (1-1 away)
Indoor record: Illinois 6-3 (4-0 at home), Texas A&M 2-3 (1-1 away)
Projected Singles Lineups (w UTR as of 2/21)
1. #8 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU 14.39) vs. #12 Aleks Vukic (ILL 14.37)
2. Jordi Arconada (TAMU 13.75) vs. #10 Jared Hiltzik (ILL 14.23)
3. #39 Shane Vinsant (TAMU 13.98) vs. #69 Aron Hiltzik (ILL 13.63)
4. Harrison Adams (TAMU 12.98) vs. Julian Childers (ILL 13.48)
5. AJ Catanzariti (TAMU 13.51) vs. Alex Jesse (ILL 12.86)
6. Jackson Withrow (TAMU 14.01) vs. Asher Hirsch (ILL 12.77)
O: Max Lunkin (TAMU 13.39)/Pengxuan Jiang (ILL 12.50), Brian Paige (ILL 12.38)
Texas A&M has played strong doubles this season while Illinois has been hit and miss though the Illini has yet to drop the point at home. I think the rowdy Net Nuts will help get Illinois over the top to take the early 1-0 lead. In singles Illinois will lean on its top 3 and get wins from Aleks Vukic, Jared Hiltzik, and Aron Hiltzik while I look for Harrison Adams, AJ Catanzariti, and Jackson Withrow to sweep the bottom 3 spots. If Texas A&M takes the doubles point and/or Shane Vinsant/Jordi Arconada beats Aron Hiltzik then the Aggies win it. Prediction: Illinois 4-3
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