On Saturday, Connecticut will face the upstart Alabama Crimson Tide in the Final Four. At the onset, Alabama was not expected to advance this far. But they have proven better than the College Basketball lines experts expected. By contrast, the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies are attempting to become the first repeat national champion since the 2006-2007 Florida Gators. UConn has flashed a dominant pose in the NCAA Tournament with ten payouts in its last 11 games. Head coach Dan Hurley is emerging as the best in the game. Correlate that gamblers are impressed with the Huskies’ reliable value.
2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four – Alabama vs. UConn
| Date and Time: | April 6, 2024, 8:49 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ |
| TV Coverage: | CBS |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | +12 -110 | 160½ -110 | +550 |  |
| UConn | -12 -110 | 160½ -110 | -800 | |
| ||||
Alabama Crimson Tide Team Overview
Overall, the Alabama Crimson Tide are 21-10 straight up, 16-14-1 against the offshore betting spread, and 23-8 over/under the total. Alabama has national metrics of 1st for scoring offense, 34th for field goal percentage, 37th for 3-point field goal percentage, 11th for free throw percentage, and 24th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Alabama is 353rd for scoring defense, 186th for field goal percentage permitted, 75th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 178th for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Alabama has covered four of its previous five games. Alabama has gone over the March Madness lines total in 13 of its last 15 outings. First among Alabama scorers is G Mark Sears, with 21.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. G Aaron Estrada averages 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest. And then F Grant Nelson adds 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per matchup.
UConn Connecticut Huskies Team Overview
Overall, the Connecticut Huskies are 28-3 straight up, 20-11 against the spread, and 15-15-1 over/under the NCAA Tournament odds total. Connecticut has national metrics of 30th for scoring offense, 15th for field goal percentage, 44th for 3-point field goal percentage, 96th for free throw percentage, and 48th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, UConn is 13th for scoring defense, 10th for field goal percentage permitted, 66th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 2nd for defensive rebounding.
Late on, UConn has covered 10 of its previous 11 games. UConn has gone under the total in eight of its last nine outings. First among UConn scorers is G Tristen Newton, with 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.
Terrence Shannon had scored at least 25 points in each of his previous seven games. But the Huskies held him to just eight on Saturday. In turn, UConn opened the second half on a 25-0 run to coast to a 77-52 victory over third-seeded Illinois in the Elite Eight.
Shannon struggled all night against UConn, making just 2 of 12 shots from the floor in 36 minutes of action. While slowing down Shannon was a team effort, Huskies coach Dan Hurley gave a lot of credit to Stephon Castle. Castle is a freshman tasked with guarding a fifth-year senior. The Huskies scored the final five points of the half to take a 28-23 lead into the break. And then they essentially punched their ticket to the Final Four in the first seven minutes of the second half.
Namely, Donovan Clingan finished with 22 points, ten rebounds, five blocks, and three steals for UConn. Now, Connecticut is headed to its seventh Final Four in program history. Cam Spencer also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Diarra supplied 11 points.