Charleston Cougars vs. Alabama Crimson Tide 3/22/24 NCAAB Betting Picks

Charleston Cougars vs. Alabama Crimson Tide 3/22/24 – As the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament heats up, the Charleston Cougars (27-7) are set to face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide (21-11) in what promises to be a thrilling contest. This matchup is one of the most anticipated as part of the March Madness spectacle. With both teams looking to advance further in the tournament, fans and bettors alike are on the lookout for March Madness free expert picks to navigate this high-stakes encounter.

Reyne Smith (Guard) vs. Mark Sears (Guard)

Reyne Smith has stood out as the foundation for the Cougars of Charleston throughout the season. With an average of 25.8 minutes on the court per game, he’s done a great job scoring 12.8 points per game. Smith’s field goal shooting of 41.2%, along with 86.3% from the free-throw and 39.5% three-point percentages, gives a strong indication of his dependability and his sharp shooting skills.

However, Mark Sears, the guard for Alabama Crimson Tide, has been simply magnificent. Across the 32 games played, Sears has recorded 33 minutes per game pointing to his overall strength with 21.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on average. Not only that, his 50.4% field goal accuracy and 43.1% three-point shooting make him a product of fear to defenses. When compared to the 1.8 turnovers per game for the Spurs, Sears’ saving grace, despite the 2.5 per game turnovers, still cannot be underestimated.

The matchup of Smith and Sears on the court will be a challenge of two opposing styles. Smith may shoot threes from the perimeter, whereas Sear may use his versatility offensively to determine the game’s pace and strategy. While both players will be important, the Bama team will have an upper hand in versatility and impact due to the numerous roles Sears can play.

Charleston Cougars’ Scoring Prowess and Defensive Concerns

The Charleston Cougars have been an incredible offensive force this season, scoring 80.5 points per game and shooting 44.3% from the field. Knocking down 10.5 three-pointers per game at a 34.5% rate covers their contribution from behind the arc. By the same token, their defensive metrics including conceding opponents to score in several games, make their ability to keep high scoring teams like Alabama in check a question.

Alabama’s High-Octane Offense and Defensive Strategy

Alabama Crimson Tide is really smart when it comes to finding the loopholes in order to score as high as possible, which is reflected in their current average score of 90.8 points per game. Certainly, their superior field goal percentage of 47.7% and a consistent three-point shooting at 36.5% contributes to their top-rate level of efficiency. Moreover, they can commit fouls and register an average 78.4% in free-throw shooting, thus making their game strategy complicated. Defensively they might spray their weakness; however, their steals and blocks suggest that they can turn a match around by playing aggressively.

NCAAB Betting Odds: Alabama Crimson Tide -500, Over/Under: 173.5

The betting odds lean heavily towards Alabama Crimson Tide with a -500 moneyline, reflecting their potent offense and overall season performance. The spread sits at -9.5 for Alabama, indicating expectations for a relatively comfortable win. However, the total of 173.5 points suggests a high-scoring affair, aligning with both teams’ offensive tendencies.

Trends

Charleston Cougars Betting Trends

Charleston are 5-0 in their last 5 games.
Charleston are 3-2 in their last 5 games against the spread
Charleston are 7-9 in their road games against the spread
The totals have gone OVER in 3 of Charleston’ last 5 games
The totals have gone OVER in 10 of Charleston’ 17 last games at home

Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

Alabama are 2-3 in their last 5 games.
Alabama are 1-4 in their last 5 games against the spread
Alabama are 5-8 in their road games against the spread
The totals have gone OVER in 4 of Alabama’ last 5 games
The totals have gone OVER in 14 of Alabama’ 19 last games at home