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There is no team in college basketball like Alabama.
The Crimson Tide play at the fastest tempo in the country, and they’re the only team in Division I that averages over 78 total possessions per game this season.
Alabama wants to run up and down the court, and they want their opponent to indulge them in that request.
If BYU wants to stay with Alabama, they’ll need to slow this contest down as much as possible.
Can the Cougars accomplish that goal and cover the 5.5-point spread? We try to answer that question and share a promo code from Fanatics Sportsbook below.
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BYU vs. Alabama betting preview
Alabama earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but there were a lot of punters out there who felt the Crimson Tide were a vulnerable favorite in the early rounds.
Those skeptics were almost proven right by Robert Morris, who pushed Alabama to the wire in Round 1.
The Tide were much more impressive in a 14-point win over St. Mary’s in the Round of 32, but it’s still fair to question if Alabama can be consistent enough to threaten the heavyweights in this field.
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Alabama is 6-5 over its last 11 contests overall, though their schedule over that span has been brutal.
BYU’s recent form is much more impressive.
The Cougars are 11-1 over their last 12 contests and they’ve covered the spread in all but two of those contests.
BYU vs. Alabama pick
Alabama is a deserving favorite for Thursday’s clash with BYU, but the matchup should strike fear into the Tide.
The Cougars grade out as the ninth-most efficient offense in KenPom’s model, which could spell trouble for an Alabama defense that has trended in the wrong direction recently.
This BYU offense is good enough to give Alabama a scare, and that puts me on the outright upset.
The Pick: BYU +176
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