NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: BYU vs Alabama Odds, Best Bets
Grant White
Host · Writer
The betting market continues to discount the BYU Cougars‘ chances time after time. Not surprisingly, that’s the case again in their Sweet Sixteen showdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Cougars are installed as +4.5 underdogs in their East Region clash in Newark.
We’ve seen the best BYU has to offer on offense, and we’ve also seen how prone to mistakes Alabama is defensively. Ultimately, we like the Cougars’ chances of pulling off an upset in what should be a high-scoring affair.
BYU vs Alabama
- Arena: Prudential Center
- Location: Newark, NJ
- Date: Thursday, March 27
- Where to Watch: CBS
- Time: 7:09 p.m. ET
- Spread: Alabama -4.5 | Total: 175.5
- Moneyline: Alabama -215 | BYU +180
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
BYU vs Alabama Best Bet: BYU +4.5
The BYU Cougars have dialed up the offensive intensity over the latter stages of the campaign. The Big 12 runner-ups have eclipsed 80 points in 10 of their last 12, including crossing the 90-point threshold in two of four. What’s been most impressive about their scoring surge is the efficiency with which they are scoring. The Cougars shot 49.2% from the field in the Round of 32, including 12-for-26 from beyond the arc. That plays into some eroding defensive concerns from the Crimson Tide over the past few weeks. Three of their last six opponents have gone north of 90 points, dropping them to 29th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings. BYU can exacerbate those concerns and maintain its current offensive form in Newark. In doing so, they should be able to cover the +4.5 spread, if not pull off the outright upset.
BYU vs Alabama Best Total Bet: Over 175.5
Of course, the Crimson Tide are no offensive slouches. They average more points per game than any other team and play with unrelenting pace. As a result, they’ve put together the fourth-most efficient offense in the country, a fact that’s reflected in their current ‘over’ trend. Alabama has gone over the total in four of their last six, despite four of those totals being higher than the 175.5 currently available. Likewise, BYU has gone over in all but one of its previous six. We’re betting those trends persist and are taking a firm stance on the over.
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BYU Best Player Bet: Richie Saunders Over 19.5 Points +105
Richie Saunders is the Cougars’ top offensive threat, and he consistently comes up big when his team needs him most. The Utah native put up 25 points in last weekend’s triumph over Wisconsin, representing the second time in four games in which he’s crossed the 20-point plateau. Saunders has maintained his usual workload, attempting 12 or more shots in three of his last four. As a result, we like his chances of eclipsing 19.5 versus the Tide, particularly at plus-money.
Alabama Best Player Bet: Mark Sears Over 4.5 Assists -140
Mark Sears has not only been one of the best scorers in the SEC, but he’s also one of the top in the country. Despite his scoring proficiency, we expect him to take a more active approach to distributing the ball. Sears has been in a giving mood lately, totaling 32 assists across his last six games. Moreover, he’s eclipsed five assists in three of those contests, including 10 in the opening round. Sears’ best isn’t exclusive to scoring, and we expect him to do whatever it takes to help Bama punch its way into the Elite Eight. Assuredly, that includes more than 4.5 assists.
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