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The North Carolina Tar Heels meet the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Crypto.com Arena this Thursday. The Sweet Sixteen showdown sees the No.1 seed clash with the No.4 seed as they attempt to win the West Region. In our latest NCAAB betting picks, we tell you if the Tar Heels will make it to the Elite Eight and justify their top ranking.
- What: 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament – Sweet Sixteen
- Who: North Carolina Tar Heels (1) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (4)
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- When: Thursday, March 28th, 2024
- Tip-Off: 8.39 pm ET
Hold onto your hats for this one folks. LA is renowned for putting on a good show, and when the Tar Heels and the Crimson Tide clash at the Crypto.com Arena, we expect a classic encounter from these two high-scoring schools.
North Carolina (29-7) are the favorites. But the Crimson Tide (23-11) are a more than capable team. And of the four No.1 seeds, the Tar Heels are the ones who look most vulnerable to suffering an upset.
Betting to win the Men’s 2024 NCAA Basketball Championship
The Connecticut Huskies have been the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament for some time now. The Huskies started March Madness at +400. After comfortable wins in the opening two rounds, UConn is now +210 to win the Championship match for a second year running.
Second in the betting with the best March Madness betting sites is the Houston Cougars at +500. Following the Cougars is Purdue at +600 and Arizona at +875.
The North Carolina Tar Heels are fifth in the latest betting at +1000. They have the longest odds of the four No.1 seeds in the competition.
Behind North Carolina is Tennessee and Marquette at +1400. Iowa State is eighth in the betting at +2200, with Creighton, Duke, and Illinois all at +2500.
Alabama is one of the outsiders to win the Championship. Nate Oats’ team is +4000 to shock the NCAA and win the 2024 Championship match.
Betting to win the West Region
Neither UNC nor the Crimson Tide are favorites to win the West Region. That privilege goes to the Arizona Wildcats. The best college basketball betting sites make the Wildcats +110 to win the bracket.
The North Carolina Tar Heels are second in the betting at +180. Alabama is +475, and the Clemson Tigers are fourth favorites at +900.
In the Sweet Sixteen match between the Wildcats and Clemson, Arizona is -310 to see off the Tigers (+260). Showing just how highly regarded the Wildcats are.
North Carolina vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Match Betting
Onto the betting to win the Sweet Sixteen showdown, and the Tar Heels aren’t as short as the Wildcats, but they are the favorite to win the West Region showdown. On the money line, North Carolina is -190, with the Crimson Tide at +165.
On the handicap spread, the Crimson Tide are receiving a 4.5-point advantage. To win with the spread, Alabama is -110. While to win and cover the 4.5-point spread, the Tar Heels are also -110.
The total points amount is a huge looking 173.5, with over and under both at -110. More betting options are available on our college basketball odds table. For our odds, we only use the best NCAA basketball betting sites.
| North Carolina vs. Alabama |  |  |  |
| North Carolina | -190 | -190 | -190 |
| Alabama | +165 | +165 | +165 |
| North Carolina (-4.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Alabama (+4.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Over 173.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 173.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
North Carolina vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Latest Form
The North Carolina Tar Heels finished first in the Atlantic Coast with a conference record of 17-3. Their closest rivals were the Duke Blue Devils, who finished second at 15-5.
In the postseason NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels have not been tested. In the First Round, they defeated No.16 Wagner 90-62. Then in the Second Round, North Carolina saw off No.9 Michigan State 85-69.
𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/NsxXO3vcdk
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 23, 2024
In their most recent five matches, the Tar Heels have won four and lost one.
Alabama finished the regular season in fifth place in the Southeastern. The Crimson Tide had a 13-5 record in the SEC, along with Kentucky, South Carolina, and Auburn. The Tennessee Volunteers won a hard-fought SEC title with a 14-4 record. There was just one win between five schools.
At the NCAA Tournament, the Crimson Tide defeated No.13 Charleston 109-96 in the opening round, and they beat No.12 Grand Canyon 72-61 in the second.
The Tide rolls on 🔥@AlabamaMBB is heading back to the Sweet 16 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/V8obSXDIVA
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 25, 2024
In their most recent five matches, Alabama has won three and lost two (both to the Florida Gators).
North Carolina vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Our Picks
Okay, in the over and under market, the target is 173.5. Both these teams are high scorers, but that total has only been bettered once by either school in their four matches in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
On the one occasion that 173.5 was beaten, it got smashed. The match between Alabama and Charleston saw a huge 205 points scored. Showing just how high-scoring Alabama can be.
Matches involving the Tar Heels have hit over 173.5 on three occasions. The Crimson Tide has bettered the score 14 times. With their averages combined, the two schools have averaged 172.5 this season.
We think 173.5 is a lot. And for our betting pick, we are going for under 173.5 points.
Despite the seeding, odds, and spread amount, we feel this game is a bit of a 50/50 call. So for our match-winner pick, we are going to back the Alabama Crimson Tide to cover the spread.
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