Dean Etheridge
One of the 2022 Thanksgiving Day headline matches see MI State taking on Alabama in Portland, so with plenty at stake, here we preview the match and tell you what we think will happen in our NCAAB betting picks.
Both of these teams are ranked, MI State are 12, and Alabama are 18. The venue is neutral, and it’s a prime time fixture on Thanksgiving Day. So what more could we ask for?
In the overall betting to be 2023 NCAA Basketball Championship winners, neither of these sides are in the betting favorites. Michigan is +5000, and Alabama is +3300. That puts both of these teams in the chasing pack of teams, just behind the main betting favorites.
The current favorites to win the championship are Houston and Gonzaga, both at +900, and the Tar Heels at +1100. Behind the top three is Duke and Kentucky, both at +1200, and Texas, Baylor, and Kansas, all at +1600.
All of the above odds are taken from the BetOnline website. For more information, including their great new customers welcome bonus, please visit our BetOnline review.
MI State (12) vs Alabama (18)
MI State and Alabama are taking part in the Phil Knight Invitational, and as a result find themselves also playing at the Moda Center in Portland.
In the betting to win the Invitational, Michigan is +275 second favorites, while Alabama are third favorites at +525. The favorites with the best college football betting sites is North Carolina, who are +175.
- What; MI State vs Alabama Crimson Tide
- Where; Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- When; Thursday, November 24th, 2022
- Time; 10.30 pm ET
Both sides have played three of their respective four matches at home this season. So will the change of venue affect one side more than the other?
Just one reversal for MI State so far
MI State are currently 13th in the Big Ten, which is a situation they will obviously be looking to improve on. It’s still early days though, and league tables are still taking shape. Michigan have also played less games than some of the teams currently above them.
They have an overall ranking of 12, which suggests they will be expected to soon be climbing the table, and that his current position is a touch false – shall we call it!
Form shows, three wins, and one defeat. The wins came over Northern AZ (73-55), Kentucky (86-77), and Villanova (73-71), all at home. The defeat came on the road, and it was at the hands of Gonzaga, 64-63, so it was a close game.
FINAL. MSU: 63, Gonzaga 64 pic.twitter.com/SRv7ZxbRbi
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) November 12, 2022
Disappointing as it was to lose to one of the higher-ranked teams. It sure beats losing to some of the lesser teams struggling to make the grade!
Alabama are four from four
As for Alabama this season, well it’s fair to say they’ve started impressively. Their 104-62 win over JSU last weekend was their fourth win from four. Their previous fixtures were a 75-54 win over Longwood on their opening night at home, which was followed up by an impressive 95-59 win over Liberty.
They then defeated South Alabama away from home in the big clash last week, taking that match 65-55. The hard yards were done in the first period, where the Crimson Tide rushed into a 32-22 lead.
The second period was more even, finishing 33-33. But the Crimson Tide showed the importance of a fast start, and it was their first half performance that effectively won them the match.
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝟑: ✅#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/V48ZlGADg8
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) November 16, 2022
MI State vs Alabama Betting
The latest betting shows that the top sportsbooks have this as a close match. The handicap spread is set at 3.5 points, and it goes in favor of Michigan State.
With a +3.5 points start, Michigan is -110. Alabama is also -110, but from -3.5 points. In the total points market, 145 points is the spread. Over 145 is -110, and under 145 is also -110.
| MI State vs Alabama NCAAB Betting |  |  |  |
| MI State +3.5 | -110 | -107 | -110 |
| Alabama -3.5 | -110 | -105 | -110 |
MI State vs. Alabama Picks
Close games on paper makes deciding our NCAA college basketball betting picks all the more difficult. And there is little to choose between the two sides.
The Michigan side that ran Gonzaga so close probably wins this match, but will that be the team that turns up? Going in favor of Alabama is their impeccable start to the season. And it’s that which is swaying me towards Nate Oats’ team.
It really is a tight call, but I’m just going to come down on the side of Alabama to beat the handicap spread from -3.5 points for my betting pick.
Moving onto the total points market, and MI State has only covered 145 in one of its matches, it did come close (144) in one other match, but the other two have been well short of the target. Alabama’s matches have beaten the 145 total twice in four.
It’s a bit of a 50/50 call again, but I can’t call over with any confidence, so for my second pick of the match, I’m going for under 145 points.
