March Madness: Alabama vs. Maryland odds, picks and prediction
The Alabama Crimson Tide (25-6) take on the Maryland Terrapins (17-13) in an East Region second-round game Monday night. The second-seeded Crimson Tide and 10th-seeded Terrapins will tip off at 8:45 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Below, we analyze the Alabama-Maryland odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
Alabama followed up its SEC tourney title with a 68-55 NCAA first-round triumph over Iona. The Crimson Tide have won seven straight and have outscored opponents by 11.9 points per game over that stretch. UA launches a ton of 3's (29.9 per game to rank fourth nationally), but was just 5-for-16 (31.3%) Saturday. In eight neutral-site games this season, the Tide shot a mere 31.5%.
Maryland, which was under .500 in Big Ten play at 9-11, defeated Connecticut 63-54 in a convincing for a first-round victory Saturday. The Terrapins outshot the Huskies 51.2% to 32.3%. Maryland ended the regular season with disappointing losses to Northwestern and Penn State. Save for below-average metrics in offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, the Terps have posted solid overall numbers and are on a decent trend line.
Alabama vs. Maryland:Odds, spread andlines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line : Alabama -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Maryland +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
- Against the spread/ATS : Alabama -5.5 (-110) | Maryland +5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under : 138 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Alabama vs. Maryland: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Alabama 71, Maryland 64
Money line (ML)
Both teams are loaded with young talent, but a senior-laden Alabama frontcourt figures to cause havoc on the offensive boards and get more inside looks in this match-up. The Tide's tremendous perimeter defense is icing on the cake.
Take ALABAMA ( -250).
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Against the spread (ATS)
The factors you'd want to see from a Maryland side are the ability to score single points (getting to the foul line), put-back points, or transition points. None of those figure as check marks on the Terps side of the ledger. Counting on triples against an Alabama defense, which has held foes to a 25.5% mark from beyond the arc since Feb. 1, is a fool's errand.
Back the CRIMSON TIDE -5.5 ( -110).
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is 6-1 in the Terps' last seven, and it's 4-1 in UA's last five neutral-site games.
Alabama plays at a fast pace (although a much toned-down pace of late). Maryland plays at a slow pace. Both sides have significant Under trends when playing clash-of-style games.
Take the UNDER 138 ( -110).
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