The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies and the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide battle in the 2024 Final Four on Saturday. The last No. 1 overall seed to win it all was Louisville in 2013. The Huskies are also looking to become the first repeat champion since 2006-07 Florida. Meanwhile, Alabama is looking to be the first team since UConn in 1999 to win the national championship in its first-ever Final Four appearance.
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 via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 161.5. Before locking in 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: 161.5 points
- UConn vs. Alabama money line: Huskies -729, Crimson Tide +502
- 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 are able to be effective from all three levels on the court. Sophomore center Donovan Clingan is listed at 7-foot-2, 280 pounds and he makes his size felt in the lane as a top-notch rebounder and rim protector. He leads the team in rebounds (7.5) and blocks (2.5), while averaging 12.9 points. He also shoots 64% from the field. In the win over Illinois, Clingan totaled a double-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
Guard Cam Spencer is a threat on the perimeter. Spencer has a sweet shooting stroke but impacts the game in other ways. The Maryland native scans the floor well as a passer and is fighting on the glass. He logs 14.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. In the Sweet 16 win over San Diego State, Spencer had 18 points, five boards and three steals. 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.
