The NCAA Tournament has reached the Sweet 16 round. The Alabama Crimson Tide are hoping to ride their high-flying offense to a win against 1-seed North Carolina, who brings an equally potent offense to the table.
Before Betting On Alabama vs North Carolina
Alabama had little trouble reaching the Sweet 16, defeating Charleston and Grand Canyon in the process. In their first-round game, the Crimson Tide saw their typical result, coasting well past 100 points while allowing the opposition to also tally 90+ points of their own. They won 109-96, led by a 30-point performance by Mark Sears. No team reached 100 points more than the Crimson Tide did this season.
Their next game against Grand Canyon was a bit different, taking on a more defensive tone. Alabama pulled away late, but struggled to avoid fouling the physical Antelopes, allowing them to take 37 total free throws. Mark Sears once again carried the bulk of the work, finishing the game with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. He’ll be tasked with keeping up with RJ Davis in this game against North Carolina.
North Carolina looked susceptible to a popularly picked Michigan State upset early on in their second-round game. They pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Spartans 61-41 over the final 25 minutes. The Tar Heels were the least picked 1-seed to win it all, but have the talent and experience to make a deep run. RJ Davis and Armando Bacot have a decade of combined experience under their belts.
They’ll need that experience against an Alabama offense that has the ability to leave opponents in the dust. Armando Bacot’s interior defense will be especially key. He averaged 11 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first two games, supporting RJ Davis who led the team in scoring. The Tar Heels have done their best to make up for the loss of offense from Caleb Love, who transferred to Arizona after last season.
Alabama vs North Carolina Offshore Odds
This is likely to be a high-scoring contest between two teams with superior offenses. The key in this matchup will be North Carolina’s defense, which ranks considerably higher than Alabama’s. If the Tar Heels can scheme Mark Sears out of the game, they’ll have a chance at slowing the Crimson Tide down. North Carolina should be able to win this one.
