Tennessee Volunteers (21-6) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (19-8)
As the college basketball season heats up, the Tennessee Volunteers face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in a highly anticipated SEC showdown. This game is a pivotal matchup for both teams as they jockey for position in the conference standings. Set for Saturday, the game will be broadcasted live from Coleman Coliseum on ESPN. Fans and bettors alike are scouring March Madness expert picks to gauge which team has the edge in this clash of titans.
The Volunteers’ offense has been clicking this season, as they average a solid 80.3 points per game on 45.6% shooting. They play with great pace, evidenced by their 39.1 rebounds and 17.3 assists per contest. Tennessee shoots the ball efficiently from all over, knocking down 34.5% of their threes and 74.5% of their free throws. Dalton Knecht leads their balanced attack with 20.1 points per outing thanks to his lethal shooting splits. Defensively, the Vols force over 8 steals and 4 blocks per game as well. They’ll look to push the tempo and outscore the Crimson Tide.
Alabama owns one of the highest flying offenses in the nation, lighting up the scoreboard for 91.1 points per game. They drain 11.5 three-pointers per contest and shoot 48.3% from the field as a team. Their scoring depth is unmatched, as they share the sugar on offense averaging over 16 assists per game. Mark Sears fuels this elite attack with his 20.4 points per game on 50.9% overall shooting. The Tide is battle tested as well, taking good care of the ball relative to their fast pace of play. They will try to turn this game into a track meet and win a shootout on their home court.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Game Info
| When: | Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Coleman Coliseum |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Dalton Knecht (Guard) vs. Mark Sears (Guard)
Dalton Knecht has taken his game to new heights in his junior season, establishing himself as Tennessee’s go-to scorer. He’s playing almost 30 minutes a night, averaging career bests across the board with 20.1 points, 5 rebounds and nearly a steal and block per outing. He’s scoring efficiently too, shooting 47.7% from the field and 40.3% from three. Knecht beats defenders with his combination of shooting, athleticism and high basketball IQ. However, he has coughed up the ball 1.5 times per contest and can be prone to forcing low-percentage shots at times.
Sophomore guard Mark Sears has been a revelation for the Crimson Tide, leading their loaded offense in scoring at 20.4 PPG. He’s a matchup nightmare, shooting over 50% from the field, 44.7% from three and 86.1% from the charity stripe. On top of his elite scoring, Sears also creates for teammates with 4.1 assists per outing and provides strong defensive effort with 1.7 steals a night. While he’s prone to turning the ball over 2.6 times per game, his quickness, playmaking and scoring instincts are extremely difficult to stop.
When these talented playmakers clash, expect an intense back-and-forth battle. Both Sears and Knecht can stretch the floor, create their own shot and beat defenders off the dribble with ease. Whichever player can exploit favorable matchups while limiting miscues and forced shots could dictate their team’s success. If Sears gets loose early, it may force Tennessee to throw double teams his way which would open up Alabama’s deep supporting cast for open looks. Meanwhile, Knecht penetrating inside and drawing fouls could get Alabama’s big men in early trouble.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this game have yet to be determined, but given the teams’ recent performances and trends, it promises to be a closely contested matchup. Bettors will want to keep a close eye on the spread and moneyline as they become available, considering both teams’ offensive capabilities and recent trends towards the OVER in their games.
Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends
Tennessee has been solid against the spread recently, covering in 3 of their last 5 contests. However, road games have given the Volunteers issues, going just 4-8 ATS outside of Knoxville. The over has hit in 2 of their last 5 but trended over more often earlier in the year.
Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends
The Crimson Tide have struggled against the number of late, covering just 2 of their previous 5 matchups. However, they’ve been dynamite at home, with the over cashing in 12 of their last 16 at Coleman Coliseum. Riding Alabama’s over and point total at home seem to be sound betting strategies.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide 3/2/24 Betting Picks
Based on data and trends, this game appears to be an epic match-up between Tennessee’s balanced attack and Alabama’s explosive offense. Tennessee’s defense may hold back Alabama and keep this contest closer than many might anticipate; given Alabama’s home advantage and efficiency though, they could sneak ahead in an action-packed affair.
However, bettors might consider betting on the total, particularly if both teams continue their high-scoring trend. With both teams’ propensity to score quickly, OVER could become an attractive betting proposition.
Alabama will likely benefit from being at home and its superior scoring ability; however, expect an intensely contested contest that could go down to the wire. Bettors should pay attention to current odds and consider both over/under/spread carefully while keeping tabs on best sportsbooks for optimal lines.
