Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas Longhorns Preview
Where: Frank Erwin Center, Austin
When: Friday, December 2, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (TBA) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (TBA) – view all NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (TBA)
Momentum is on the side of Alabama later tonight, when the Crimson Tide roll into Austin. Bama is on a two-game win streak, having defeated Saint Louis last week (62-57) and Charleston Southern on Tuesday (76-46).
The match against Texas, despite the underwhelming start of the Longhorns, will be a big test for Alabama, which is relying mostly on its defense for on-court success. The Crimson Tide are 22nd in the nation in scoring defense (60.0 points allowed per game) and 43rd in KenPom’s defensive efficiency.
That defense will either get exposed or get more respect against a Texas team that may be struggling to put the ball in the hoop but is still the toughest opponent to date for Alabama. The Longhorns are scoring just 69.3 PPG on 42.7 percent shooting from the field.
The offense will likely revolve mostly around the pair of Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram, who are both the only Crimson Tide averaging in double figures in scoring. Key is pacing the team with 10.7 PPG while Ingram isn’t far behind with 10.0 PPG.
The under is 4-0 in Bama’s last four games overall.
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (TBA)
There’s something wrong with the Longhorns, as one could detect from their current three-game losing skid. The latest Longhorns mishap was a 72-61 loss at the hands of UT-Arlington last Tuesday, when Texas shot a pathetic 39.3% from the floor while going full JR Smith from beyond the arc, where the team went 3-for-23.
But as bad as the Longhorns shot in that game, they might have to keep on shooting from the perimeter against an Alabama defense that rejects 22.1% of opponents’ shot attempts at the rim—sixth best in the nation thus far this season.
The Longhorns, however, might still like this matchup with Alabama, which is offensively challenged team like them. A low-scoring game could work just fine for Texas, which is 87th in the nation in defense with 66.8 points allowed per contest.
Tevin Mack and Kerwin Roach Jr. lead Texas’ offense, as they are averaging 14.6 PPG and 12.2 PPG, respectively. The duo combined for 35 points in the loss to UT-Arlington on an efficient 14-for-28 shooting.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas wins, 75-67.
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