March Madness: Grand Canyon vs. Alabama odds, picks and predictions
The Grand Canyon Antelopes (30-4) and Alabama Crimson Tide (22-11) meet Sunday in 2nd-round action in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from the Spokane (Wash.) Veterans Memorial Arena is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Grand Canyon vs. Alabamaodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Grand Canyon picked up its 1st-ever NCAA Tournament victory on Friday night against Saint Mary's, as the 12th seed upset the 5th seed in Spokane. The Antelopes won 75-66 as 5.5-point underdogs as the Over (132) cashed. That's 6 straight victories and covers since consecutive losses in the WAC on the road against Tarleton State and Abilene Christian Feb. 22-24.
The SEC has had an ugly NCAA Tournament, but Alabama was able to avoid the upset bug with a 109-96 win over Charleston in the opening round, covering as 8.5-point favorites as the Over (172.5) easily connected. Bama shot a blistering 60% (36 of 60) from the field, including 57% (13 of 23) from behind the 3-point line.
If there was a concern for Alabama in the 1st game, it managed just a 65% (24 of 37) mark from the free-throw line. It can't leave that many points on the floor in a close game. Mark Sears did his part at the line, though, hitting 9 of 11, finishing with a team-best 30 points with 5 assists and 4 rebounds, while knocking down 3 triples.
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Alabama was No. 18 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll of the regular season, while Grand Canyon was unranked.
Grand Canyon vs. Alabama odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook's; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Grand Canyon +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Alabama -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Grand Canyon +5.5 (-105) | Alabama -5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 168.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Grand Canyon vs. Alabama and predictions
Prediction
Alabama 95, Grand Canyon 84
Moneyline
Alabama (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that's just a little too expensive for a singular bet. Even as part of a multi-bet parlay, including Bama on your ticket sucks a lot of value out.
PASS, and look to the line instead.
Against the spread
ALABAMA -5.5 (-115) is a strong play laying the points. Grand Canyon +5.5 (-105) was sharp against Saint Mary's, and it has won and covered 6 in a row. But this Crimson Tide offense is a whole other animal, and it can routinely score into the 90's and 100's.
The Antelopes are likely to be right there in the 1st half, as G Tyon Grant-Foster can fill up the stat sheet, and he is 1 of 3 players who averaged 13.4 PPG or more during the season. But depth will be an issue down the stretch, and the Crimson Tide should pull away for a comfortable margin of victory to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 in style.
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Over/Under
OVER 168.5 (-110) is the best play on the board.
Alabama can put up lofty offensive totals, and it doesn't focus much at the defensive end. We'll likely get a very wide-open and entertaining basketball game, especially if you like points.
The Antelopes have been cooking offensively, too. Grand Canyon cashed the Over against Saint Mary's, and the total has gone high in each of its 3 postseason games to date. The Over is 9-4 in the past 13 games, too.
For the Crimson Tide, they've gone for 87 or more points in 4 in a row, and 9 of the past 10 outings, with the Over going 11-1 in the past 12 games. One of the scariest things to do this season is take a chance on an Alabama Under. Don't do it.
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