The No. 4 Baylor Bears (18-2) head to Coleman Coliseum to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-7) Saturday as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (on ESPN). Below, we look at the Baylor vs. Alabama odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Oddly enough, the Bears may have 2 losses, but they are undefeated on the road, sitting 5-0 on the season and 8-0 if when including neutral-court environments. The Bears are 12-7-1 against the spread (ATS).
After losing two straight in Big 12 action, they’ve won their last three, covering each time. However, they’ll be taking on an underrated Crimson Tide roster that’s 9-1 at home (just 1-4 on the road) and 7-12-1 ATS overall.
Alabama is coming off a worrisome road loss to Georgia as a 14.5-point favorite. The Crimson Tide have been more than 9-point favorites in 5 of their last 10 games, losing outright in 2 of them. They’ve covered just once in their last 10 games, pushing once as well.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Baylor at Alabama odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:59 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Baylor -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Alabama +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
- Against the spread: Baylor -3.5 (-105) | Alabama +3.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 150.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Get some action on this matchup at Tipico Sportsbook, a trusted, global sports-betting leader and Sportsbook Wire’s official betting partner.
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico now. IA, Tipico is coming to your state soon! New customer offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits! 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!
Baylor at Alabama odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Baylor 74, Alabama 72
Money line
PASS, but consider a slight sprinkle on Baylor (-165).
Given how well Alabama has played at home and the value put on Baylor, I can’t fully get behind a play on its money line, but I do expect ‘Bama to win outright.
Against the spread
LEAN to ALABAMA +3.5 (-120).
The Crimson Tide have been a completely different team at home. They lost to now-No. 2 Auburn by four (81-77) on their home court. It’s the Tide’s only loss at Coleman Coliseum this season.
Alabama’s two top scoring threats, both guards 6-foot-3 or shorter – Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly – are upperclassmen and should be able to handle the pressure and pace of Baylor’s tremendous perimeter defense.
The Crimson Tide also play 7-foot freshman C Charles Bediako 18 minutes per game. So, if Alabama needs size to counterattack the strength of Baylor’s top rebounder, F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, it’ll have it.
The experience of the Crimson Tide should be able to keep this game close. With the Tide playing like the top-10 team analysts thought they could be at home, I expect this to be a close battle.
Alabama has yet to be a home underdog this season.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 150.5 (-110).
The Bears defense is the real deal. Baylor forces opponents to use clock whether or not they turn the ball over or not.
While the Crimson Tide are giving up 74.7 points per game (PPG), the Bears are among the best defenses in college hoops. They allow just 59.3 PPG, the 13th fewest in the country. Baylor has hit the Under in four of its last five games.
With this being the only total in their last 18 games with an Over of 144 or higher, the Bears should be able to limit the Crimson Tide enough to make the Under the more attractive play.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and, soon, IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]