2024 NCAA Tournament odds, picks: Alabama vs. North Carolina prediction, time, best bets by expert on 22-4 run

One workforce will get an opportunity to play for a spot within the Last 4, and one workforce’s season will come to an finish when the top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels and fourth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide collide in a Candy 16 showdown on Thursday. The highest-seeded Tar Heels (29-7) wish to attain the Elite Eight for the twenty eighth time in program historical past. UNC ranks second all-time in Elite Eight appearances, behind solely Kentucky (34). In the meantime, the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide (23-11) can advance to the regional last for simply the second time at school historical past with a victory on Thursday evening. 

Tipoff from Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles is about for 9:39 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels are favored by 4.5 factors within the newest North Carolina vs. Alabama odds through SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/below for whole factors scored is 173.5. Earlier than making any Alabama vs. North Carolina picks or NCAA Match predictions, you have to take a look at the school basketball predictions from SportsLine professional Thomas Casale.

A frequent visitor on nationwide radio and TV exhibits to debate faculty sports activities, Casale began enjoying soccer sheets at 8 years outdated when his dad was the native bookie. He is been betting — and profitable — for greater than 30 years. Over the past three faculty basketball seasons (via Jan. 31, 2024), Thomas is 305-179-7 (63%). He is also on a 22-4-1 roll together with his final 27 against-the-spread picks, for a revenue of $1,743 for $100 bettors. Anybody who has constantly adopted him is manner up.

Now, Casale has set his sights on North Carolina vs. Alabama and made his picks and predictions. You’ll be able to go to SportsLine now to see his picks. Listed here are a number of faculty basketball odds and developments for Alabama vs. North Carolina:

• North Carolina vs. Alabama unfold: Tar Heels -4.5
• North Carolina vs. Alabama over/below: 173.5 factors
• North Carolina vs. Alabama cash line: Tar Heels -201, Crimson Tide +166
• UNC: The Tar Heels rank eighth within the nation in rebounds per recreation (40.9).
• ALA: The Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring (90.7 factors per recreation).
• North Carolina vs. Alabama picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why North Carolina can cowl

North Carolina has the most effective gamers within the nation in RJ Davis. The senior guard from White Plains, N.Y., is averaging 21.3 factors per recreation, which ranks thirteenth within the nation. He is additionally pulling down 41.1% of his 3-pointers. For his efforts this season, Davis was named the ACC Participant of the Yr and has acquired first-team All-American honors from the Related Press and Sporting Information.

Davis and the Tar Heels will face an Alabama workforce that has one of many worst defenses in Div. I. The Crimson Tide quit 80.9 factors per recreation; simply six groups within the nation permit extra. In Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive effectivity metric, Alabama offers up 102.3 factors per 100 possessions, which ranks a hundred and first within the nation. See which workforce to select right here.

Why Alabama can cowl

Alabama has a dynamic backcourt duo in Mark Sears and Aaron Estrada. Sears ranks eleventh within the nation in scoring (21.5 factors per recreation) whereas Estrada provides 13.3 factors per contest. They’re the primary Div. I duo since 1996-97 to each have no less than 410 factors, 125 assists, 120 rebounds, 50 3-pointers made and 40 steals through the common season.

Led by Sears and Estrada, the Crimson Tide can beat anybody due to their proficiency from behind the 3-point arc. Alabama takes 30.1 3-pointers per recreation, which ranks fourth within the nation, and makes 11.0 3-pointers per recreation, which ranks third. To date within the 2024 NCAA Match, the Crimson Tide have made 21 whole 3-pointers, capturing 38.9% from behind the arc. See which workforce to select right here.

How one can make North Carolina vs. Alabama picks

Casale has analyzed this matchup from each attainable angle. He’s leaning Over on the purpose whole and has found a important X-factor that has him leaping throughout one facet of the unfold. He is sharing what it’s, and which facet to again, solely at SportsLine.

Who wins Alabama vs. UNC, and which facet of the unfold is a must-back? Go to SportsLine now to see which facet of the UNC vs. Alabama unfold hits, all from the professional who’s 305-179-7 over the past three faculty basketball seasons, and discover out.