The Connecticut Huskies will try to maintain alive essentially the most dominant faculty basketball run in current reminiscence as they face the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday within the 2024 Ultimate 4. The Huskies (35-3) received the nationwide championship final season and have been much more dominant within the 2024 NCAA Match, coasting to a Ultimate 4 look by defeating each opponent by a minimal of 17 factors. Now, they face a surging Alabama (23-11) membership that has reached the Ultimate 4 for the primary time in program historical past and wishes to tug the colossal upset to maintain their dream season alive.
Tipoff is ready for 8:49 p.m. ET from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Huskies are 11.5-point favorites and the over/below for complete factors scored is 160.5 within the newest Alabama vs. UConn odds through SportsLine consensus. Earlier than making any UConn vs. Alabama picks, make sure to see the school basketball predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine knowledgeable Zack Cimini.
A Las Vegas handicapper who’s by no means afraid to buck typical knowledge, Cimini enters the Ultimate 4 as SportsLine’s most worthwhile faculty basketball knowledgeable. He is 85-60-2 on his final 147 faculty basketball picks, returning $1,850 for $100 gamers. Anybody following him has seen large returns.
Now, he has his sights on Alabama vs. UConn within the 2024 Ultimate 4 and simply locked in his picks and predictions. You’ll be able to head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Listed below are a number of faculty basketball odds and tendencies for UConn vs. Alabama:
- Alabama vs. UConn level unfold: UConn -11.5
- Alabama vs. UConn over/below complete: 160.5 factors
- Alabama vs. UConn cash line: Connecticut -727, Alabama +499
- BAMA: The Crimson Tide are 11-6 in opposition to the unfold in non-conference video games this season.
- UCONN: The Huskies have received their 4 NCAA Match video games by a mean of 27.7 factors.
- Alabama vs. UConn picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why UConn can cowl
Connecticut coach Dan Hurley has develop into a polarizing determine of kinds, however he makes no apologies for an unorthodox method that he believes has promoted unity throughout the program. Hurley is understood for his bombastic tirades in opposition to officers and in addition is not afraid to incite the group throughout video games if he feels this system’s trustworthy aren’t having sufficient of an influence.
He is additionally on the verge of a significant accomplishment. If the Huskies had been to win back-to-back NCAA titles, Hurley would be part of Invoice Self of Kansas and Rick Pitino of St. John’s as the one lively coaches to have received a number of titles. This can be a drastic about-face from hypothesis that Hurley, who had zero NCAA Match wins in his first 4 seasons at UConn, may need been proven the door had the Huskies not made a deep run within the postseason final yr.
Though a well-liked mode of operation for profitable groups is to invent a motive to counsel they’re disrespected or underdogs, Hurley has taken the alternative method. He has embraced the proverbial goal on his crew’s again and has repeatedly inspired his crew to welcome all challengers. “The extent of basketball we have performed thus far, it has been unparalleled,” he advised the media after the Elite Eight win over Illinois. Simply the protection, and it has been unparallelled what we have been in a position to do right here with the domination of high quality groups.” See which crew to select at SportsLine.
Why Alabama can cowl
Though it goes with out saying that an Alabama crew that leads the nation in scoring would like an up-tempo tempo, there’s additionally some proof to counsel that such an method is perhaps a uncommon legal responsibility for the Huskies.
The Huskies have proven they will play at both tempo, as their 81.4 factors per sport ranks No. 28 nationally. However they rank No. 315 in adjusted tempo, whereas Alabama ranks No. 9 on this class. What’s extra, two of Connecticut’s three losses have come to up-tempo golf equipment that had been environment friendly whereas Huskies had an off night time offensively, significantly from behind the arc. Connecticut has remarkably overcome poor outdoors taking pictures all through the NCAA Match and was simply 3-of-17 from distance in opposition to Illinois.
In a 75-60 loss to Seton Corridor, the Huskies shot 4-of-21 from 3-point vary whereas the Pirates shot 51.8% from the sector and 3-of-8 from past the arc. Creighton managed an 85-66 blowout of Connecticut that noticed the Bluejays shoot 54.7% from the sector, whereas Huskies had been held to 44% and simply 3-of-16 from 3-point land. See which crew to select at SportsLine.
Tips on how to make Alabama vs. UConn picks
Cimini is leaning Over on the purpose complete. He has additionally found a vital X-factor that has him leaping throughout one facet of the unfold. He is solely sharing what it’s, and which facet to again, at SportsLine.
So who wins UConn vs. Alabama within the 2024 Ultimate 4, and what vital X-factor makes one facet of the unfold a must-back? Go to SportsLine now to see which facet of the unfold to leap on, all from the knowledgeable on an 85-60 roll on his faculty basketball finest bets, and discover out.