The Alabama Crimson Tide have dominated the LSU Tigers this season. But the Tigers have been on a hot run, and that momentum could be what helps them get over the hump in this head-to-head. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the LSU Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide NCAA College Basketball Game on March 14 2021
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
When: Sunday, March 14, 2021, 1:00 PM ET
Line: LSU Tigers (+5.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-5.5) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the LSU Tigers (+5.5)
Record: 17-8 Overall / 11-8 Conference
Behind a fantastic defense and steady shooting from deep, LSU managed to be the team that cooled down the Arkansas Razorbacks in a 78-71 win in the semifinals of the 2021 SEC tournament. Cameron Thomas showed the way for the Tigers, as he scored 21 points. As a team, LSU held Arkansas to just 0.96 points per possession and went 9 of 19 from long range. Thomas had scored 43 points in the two meetings with Alabama in the regular season, which both resulted in LSU losses. Thomas, however, has been wildly inconsistent with his offense, and if the Tigers were to bring down Alabama, it’s likely because the freshman shot more efficiently from the floor. Thomas is 58th in the nation in possession percentage and 19th in shot percentage, so the success of his team is largely dependent on him. LSU has a prolific offense that ranked eighth in the regular season nationally with 82.4 points per game. The Tigers will also look to get plenty of points from the foul line, as they went 30 for 44 on free throws in the past two meetings with Alabama.
LSU is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games overall.
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (-5.5)
Record: 22-6 Overall / 16-2 Conference
Alabama making it all the way to the conference title game isn’t that much surprising, considering that the Crimson Tide are the top seed in the tournament. It’s been a dominant run so far in the tourney for Nate Oates’ team, as Alabama demolished the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the quarterfinals, 85-48, before defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in the semis on Saturday, 73-68. Speaking of demolition jobs, Alabama’s two wins in the regular season over LSU was exactly that. Alabama defeated LSU in Baton Rouge on Jan. 19 (105-75) then annihilated the Tigers again in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 3, 78-60. Alabama has the perfect weapon to counter the fast-paced style of LSU, and that’s the Crimson Tide’s rebounding. Alabama massively outrebounded the Tigers in those games by a total margin of 30 rebounds, which figures because the Crimson Tide finished the regular season 13th nationally with 40.1 rebounds per game. Alabama’s outside shooting will also be a huge problem for the Tigers. Alabama had 23 threes in the January meeting and is No. 1 in the SEC with a 37.8 3-point shooting percentage.
Alabama is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama wins, 81-76.
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