Vegas Writer - BYU vs Alabama

VW'S CBB SWEET 16 GAME OF THE YEAR +BONUS

Handicapper

Vegas Writer

League

NCAAB

Competition

BYU vs Alabama

Release Date

03/27/2025 12:23 PM

Event Date

03/27/2025 07:09 PM

Bet Type

Point Spread

Pick

Alabama -4.5 (-118) (DraftKings)

Outcome

Win

Analysis

BONUS WINNER: The seventh-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide fell short in their bid to win this year’s Southeastern Conference Tournament, but still have their eyes fixed on the bigger prize of a national championship. They’ll take a step closer towards that goal when they get the better of the BYU Cougars in their NCAA Tournament East Regional Sweet 16 matchup tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Alabama (27-8) got pushed around at the end of the regular season, losing four of its final seven contests, but has come on to win three of its four postseason games, losing only to eventual SEC champion Florida in the tournament semifinals. It has also won seven of its eight neutral-site games this season. Allowing 81 points per game (356th), the Crimson Tide leave a lot to be desired defensively, I get it. But they more than make up for it on the offensive end, where they lead the country in scoring at 90.8 ppg. No. 17 BYU (26-9) doesn’t have any issues when it comes to putting the ball in the basket either, averaging the nation's 26th-most 81.2 ppg. The only problem is that it hasn’t been quite as efficient away from home, where its scoring dips to 76.8 ppg. Its shooting percentage also suffers on the road, slipping to 45.7 percent from its season average of 48.3 percent (19th). One major thing to keep an eye on is the Cougars' three-point defense. They rank 329th in three-pointers allowed per game at 26.4, a huge problem when Alabama ranks ninth in shot attempts from deep with 29.2 per outing, and 18th in makes (10.2). Bottom line, both of these teams have been battle-tested this season, especially Alabama, which ranks first in the country in strength of schedule with a 19.52 NetRtg (KenPom). While BYU hasn’t made an Elite Eight tourney appearance since 1981, the Crimson Tide will advance to the Elite Eight for a second straight year with tonight’s win, covering the spread in the process.