The top-seeded UConn Huskies and the fourth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide play in the 2024 Final Four on Saturday. It is the first NCAA Tournament meeting ever between these programs. UConn, a No. 4 seed in 2023, topped Miami and San Diego State in the Final Four last year to notch its fifth championship in school history. Alabama is seeking its first ever national title and will try to replicate UConn’s 2023 run and become the third No. 4 seed ever to win it all.
Tipoff from the State Farm Stadium in Arizona is set for 8:49 p.m. ET. The Huskies are 11.5-point favorites in the latest Alabama vs. UConn odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 160.5. Before making any UConn vs. Alabama picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the Sweet 16 round of the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 152-109 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 players. It also has a strong 32-21 (+890) record on top-rated spread picks this season, and its bracket picks rank in the 92nd percentile among all CBS Sports Bracket Challenge entries so far in 2024. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Connecticut vs. Alabama and just locked in its Final Four predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Alabama vs. Connecticut:
- UConn vs. Alabama spread: Huskies -11.5
- UConn vs. Alabama over/under: 160.5 points
- UConn vs. Alabama money line: Huskies -727, Crimson Tide +499
- UCONN: 17-5 ATS this season in road or neutral games
- BAMA: 22-14 ATS this season
- UConn vs. Alabama picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Alabama can cover
The Crimson Tide have the ability to score from all over the court and that is key this late into the season. UConn’s defense is one of the best in the nation, but Alabama has the playmakers to do some damage, led by senior guard Mark Sears, an exceptional scorer and facilitator. The Alabama native averages 21.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. He’s notched 23-plus points in three tournament games thus far.
Senior guard Aaron Estrada gives Alabama another playmaker in the backcourt. Estrada scans the floor with ease but can also create his own offense. He leads the team in assists (4.7) with 13.4 points per contest. In his last game, Estrada had 10 points, eight boards and five assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why UConn can cover
The Huskies have been dominant on both ends of the floor during the 2023-24 campaign. UConn ranked 22nd in the country in scoring offense (81.4) and ninth in scoring defense (63.3). The Huskies were also sixth in the field-goal percentage defense (38.9). The combination of effective offense and suffocating defense makes things hard on their opponents.
Senior guard Tristen Newton has been the engine for UConn. Newton is an agile ball handler who can score and create with ease. The Texas native led the team in both scoring (15) and assists (6.1). In the second-round win over Northwestern, Newton finished with 20 points, 10 assists and two steals. He’s dished out 8-plus assists in four of his last six games. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make UConn vs. Alabama picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 162 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Alabama vs. UConn, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 152-109 roll on its top-rated college basketball picks, and find out.
