North Carolina vs Alabama State betting odds, predictions, pick and promos
THE Sweet Sixteen tips off on Thursday, March 28, and so too does the game between No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 Alabama from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
In the Round of 32, North Carolina defeated Michigan State, while Alabama beat Grand Canyon.
Best promos for North Carolina vs Alabama State
Check out the best college basketball sportsbooks and their promos for the finals. Also, take a look at our NCAA finals guide to get the most out of your betting experience for this year's bracket.
| Operator | Bonus | Min. deposit | Expiration |
| DraftKings | Bet $5 get $150 | $5 | 7 days after credited |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,500 in bonus bets paid back if first bet does not win | $10 | 7 days after credited |
| BetRivers | 2nd chance bet up to $500 | $10 | 7 days after credited |
| Betway* | Bet $25 get $150 if bet wins | $10 | 7 days after credited |
North Carolina exclusive promos
With the launch of legal sports betting in North Carolina, the best sportsbooks are running exclusive promos for NC bettors, perfect for the NCAA Finals.
| Operator | Promo | Expiration |
| DraftKings | Up to $250 in bonus bets | 7 days after being awarded |
| BetMGM | Bet $5 get $150 in bonus bets | 7 days after being awarded |
North Carolina (1) vs Alabama State (4) betting preview
The Tar Heels handled the Spartans relatively easily, winning 85-69. The Tar Heels led 40-31 at halftime and four players scored double-digit points. RJ Davis led the way with 20 points while Armando Bacot had 18 and added seven rebounds. Harrison Ingram had 17 with seven rebounds, and Cormac Ryan had 14 points and three boards. They shot 46.7% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, but were out-rebounded 41-32.
As for Alabama, they took on the WAC conference champion Grand Canyon and won 72-61. Mark Sears had 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Aaron Estrada had eight points, six assists, and 10 rebounds. Rylan Griffen was the only other player to hit double-digit points with 13. The Crimson Tide had a poor shooting day, going 36.9% from the field, 25.8% from beyond the arch, and just 72.7% from the free throw line. They out-rebounded Grand Canyon 50-41 as they shot just 32.1% from the field.
North Carolina vs Alabama State odds
Below are the odds for this matchup, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Spread: Alabama (+4, -110); North Carolina (-4, -110).
- Moneyline: Alabama (+164); North Carolina (-198).
- Total: Over 174 (-110); Under 174 (-110)
North Carolina vs Alabama State analysis
The Crimson Tide's offense is normally the best in college basketball, averaging over 90 points per game, but that simply wasn’t the case against Grand Canyon. They had a poor outing overall, but it goes to show that they can still score into the 70s despite those pitfalls. Mark Sears was key to their win, putting the team on his back with a double-double. Still, he was a bit dinged up following the win, but he has until Thursday to rest up.
While Alabama has this prolific offense, their defense is the polar opposite. They allow 81.5 points per game, which is 11th-worst in the country. Meanwhile, North Carolina is at 99th in the country allowing 70 points per game. Shooting-wise, they hold teams to just 40.8% from the floor (20th) and 31.7% from three-point range (54th). That said, their defense has been a bit suspect.
The Crimson Tide average 76.8 possessions per game, while North Carolina is at 73.2.
As for their offense, North Carolina averages 81.8 points per game, which is 16th in the country.
North Carolina vs Alabama State pick
As you can tell from the over/under above, a lot of points are going to be scored here. These are two incredible offenses with talent up and down the roster. The issue for Alabama here is that their defense simply doesn’t show up. In the first two rounds of the tournament, they played a No. 12 and No. 13 seed, and Grand Canyon made just two threes all night. If they made their season average of seven, you add 15 more points, and Alabama actually loses that game.
North Carolina’s defense is far from perfect, but they’ll be able to score at will against Alabama and cover this number.
Alternatively, the over here isn’t a bad bet, even at 174 points.
🏀 North Carolina -4 (-110) at DraftKings 🏀
North Carolina vs Alabama State game info
- Who: North Carolina (1) vs Alabama State (4)
- Date: Thursday, March 28
- Time: Schedule to start at the conclusion of Game 1 (7:09 pm ET start)
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
- Where to watch: CBS
About the author
Richard Janvrin
Richard Janvrin brings nearly a decade of experience covering sports, and other betting-related content. Richard received his bachelor's degree in Journalism/English from the University of New Hampshire. Throughout his career, Richard has written for sites like Bleacher Report, Forbes, The Game Day, WSN, and many more.
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