Men’s March Madness Sweet 16 preview
With the Sweet 16 upon us, USA Today Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon previews a few of the top matchups we’re most looking forward to.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels, the No. 1 seed, will face off against the No. 4 seed, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a Sweet 16 matchup in Los Angeles. The Tar Heels have won eight of their 13 previous meetings against the Crimson Tide, and this will be the first time these two teams meet since 1992.
North Carolina cruised to a victory after beating Michigan State 85-69 in a second-round matchup. RJ Davis led the Tar Heels with 20 points, and Harrison Ingram contributed 17 points and seven rebounds.
Alabama has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third time in the past four seasons after defeating the No. 12 seed, Grand Canyon. Mark Spears contributed 26 points and 12 rebounds to secure the 72-61 win, while Ryan Griffen played a crucial role with 13 points in the second-round game.
Alabama vs. North Carolina predictions
Tucaloosa News: UNC 88, Alabama 83
Nick Kelly writes: “If the Crimson Tide guards like it did against Grand Canyon, it will have a shot. Pair its usual good shooting with that kind of defensive effort, and Alabama can upset UNC. However, the Tar Heels will present more of an offensive threat than Grand Canyon did. And the UNC defense is also elite. The Crimson Tide will give the Tar Heels a tough game, but in the end, UNC outlasts Alabama for the victory.”
Sporting News: North Carolina 92, Alabama 83
Kris Johnson writes, “The trouble is Alabama’s defense ranks No. 348 (out of 362 schools) in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score an average of 80.9 points per game. Further complicating matters is UNC isn’t Grand Canyon. The Tar Heels are 20th nationally with an average of 81.8 PPG.”
Pickswise: North Carolina
Staff writes: “The Tar Heels have a defense that can keep up with Alabama’s lethal offense. ‘Bama boasts one of the best offenses in the country that will put up points in this matchup, but UNCa’s defense has been efficient enough this year to potentially slow it down and help them cover the spread. According to KenPom, North Carolina’s defense is ranked #6 in adjusted efficiency, #15 in effective field-goal percentage and #22 in 2-point percentage. Alabama is ranked highly in every offensive category , but North Carolina should be able to do just enough to cover the 4-point spread. North Carolina is the higher seed for a reason; I expect them to prove that it is the better team. Im going with UNC -4.”
Alabama vs. North Carolina: Odds, spread and lines for March Madness
The Tar Heels are favorites to defeat the Crimson Tide in Thursday’s Sweet 16 March Madness matchup, according to the BetMGM college basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering sports betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of Tuesday.
- Spread: North Carolina (-4.5)
- Moneylines: North Carolina(-175); Alabama (+150)
- Over/under: 173.5
How to watch Alabama vs. North Carolina: TV, streaming and schedule
When: Thursday, March 28 at 9:39 pm ET
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Cable TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+
How to watch NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness 2024
All games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Here are additional streaming options to watch all the action on your devices.
How to watch March Madness: Watch all tournament games with a subscription to fuboTV
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