North Carolina vs Alabama Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
It's just the 11th time these two have ever played, with Alabama holding tough - it's a 6-5 UNC advantage. The Tar Heels are looking to get past the the regional semifinal for the second time in three years. Alabama hasn't been in the Elite Eight since 2004.
North Carolina vs Alabama Basketball
Date: Thursday, March 28
Game Time: 9:39 pm ET
Venue: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
How To Watch: COMING
Record: Alabama (23-11), North Carolina (29-7)
NCAA Tournament Region: West
- 2024 NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews, Lines
Why Alabama Will Win
Well hello, Alabama defense.
For all of the offensive pyrotechnics, and for all the threes, and up-and-down craziness, and all the firepower, what the Tide do to get by Grand Canyon?
The nation’s 346th ranked scoring D held the high-octane Grand Canyon offense to 61 points and 2-of-20 from three. It might have been close for a while, but when it was time to go on a run, that’s exactly what the team did.
That’s not happening for a full 40 minutes in crypto.com, if it can just hold serve once in a while, that might be enough.
For all the great things about this North Carolina team, it’s at its best when cranking up the energy and the shooting. You want play a game with a ton of fire and lots of scoring?
Bama is 16-1 when scoring 89 points. It will certainly drag Carolina into an offensive battle, but …
Why North Carolina Will Win
North Carolina is 16-0 when scoring at least 84 points.
Everything is fine as long as the Tar Heels are making shots. It sounds basic, but when Alabama gets on the move and the offense is exploding, it’s all about keeping up. UNC is 11-0 when making 48% or more of its shots and 27-4 when making 38% or more.
Alabama allows teams to make 44% or more, and now it’s facing a team that can do it all - feed the inside, attack the rim, and make the timely three. This team can do everything Bama can do offensively, and in several ways, better.
Bama turns it over too much, North Carolina will turn those big plays into points. Bama rules on the offensive boards, but few can hit the defensive glass like the Tar Heels. Bama will score a ton of points, but …
North Carolina vs Alabama: Who Will Win
Alabama is 0-4 when allowing 99 points or more and 6-11 when allowing more than 80.
Everyone will be expecting a wild firefight with a gajillion points scored, and that’s exactly what these two will provide.
Alabama can’t let North Carolina get settled in a half-court set, and North Carolina can’t make this about trading threes.
Each one will go on runs, and the lead will change hands enough to make this one of the wildest games of the college basketball season.
In the end, North Carolina will get a few late rebounds to survive a game loaded with knockout punches.
North Carolina vs Alabama Prediction, Odds
North Carolina 94, Alabama 88
Line: North Carolina -4.5, o/u: 172.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
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