Alabama vs Ohio State Prediction & Picks: Will the Tide Turn Away the Buckeyes?

In the semifinals of the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida, Mark Sears and #17 Alabama will look to remain perfect this season as they take on Bruce Thornton and Ohio State (7:00 pm ET, CBS Sports Network).

While this contest certainly won’t garner the level of attention a college football showdown between two of the most prominent names in that sport, this is a very intriguing matchup between two talented college basketball teams.

Bet on Alabama vs Ohio State and More at BetDSI

After sweeping the SEC regular season and tournament titles and earning the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Crimson Tide suffered heavy personnel losses.

But in addition to getting guard Mark Sears back, coach Nate Oats reloaded with a strong recruiting class and an impressive portal haul, and Alabama is off to a 4-0 start.

Can they make it 5-0 and set up a potential championship matchup with Oregon (who plays Santa Clara in the other semifinal)? They are favored by a decent margin over the Buckeyes, who are searching for a strong non-conference win to help their chances of a return to the Big Dance after missing out on March Madness last season.

Alabama vs Ohio State Odds

Odds are courtesy of Bovada.

Spread

• Alabama -6.5 (-110)
• Ohio State +6.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 154 (-115)
• Under 154 (-105)

Moneyline

• Alabama -285
• Ohio State +235

Alabama vs Ohio State Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Alabama to win

Picks: Alabama team total over 79.5 points (-125 at Bovada) & Alabama/Ohio State over 154 (-115 at Bovada)

After last season, Alabama suffered seven notable departures. Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney, and Charles Bediako all departed early for the pros, Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Nimari Burnett (Michigan), and Jahvon Quinerly (Memphis) all transferred, and sixth-year senior Noah Gurley ran out of eligibility.

That’s a lot of losses, but thanks to the return of Sears, a strong portal haul, and two top-100 recruits in Jarin Stevenson and Sam Walters, the Crimson Tide look equipped to be a formidable force again this season.

Results for Alabama This Season

• 105-73 W vs Morehead State
• 102-80 W vs Indiana State
• 102-46 W vs South Alabama
• 98-67 W vs Mercer

Of those teams, only one (#94 Indiana State) is in the top 100 at KenPom, but that is a lot of points no matter how you look at it.

After averaging 19.6 PPG at Ohio two seasons ago, Sears averaged 12.5 PPG in his first season at Alabama, finishing as Alabama’s second leading scorer behind Miller, the #2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Bama added some serious scoring options through the portal in Estrada (19.3 PPG across his two seasons at Hofstra), Nelson (17.9 PPG at North Dakota State last season), and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (16.3 PPG at Cal State Fullerton last season), but Sears has taken over as the Tide’s top scoring option.

Unfortunately for other teams, Estrada and Nelson are also both producing in that department, and contributions are also coming from the likes of Stevenson, Walters, and returnees Nick Pringle and Rylan Griffen.

Top Players for Alabama

• Mark Sears: 19.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.5 APG
• Aaron Estrada: 15.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.3 SPG
• Grant Nelson: 13.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 BPG
• Jarin Stevenson: 10.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG

Can Ohio State possibly keep up with Alabama? They utilize a much different approach than the Crimson Tide, who rank third in Division I in average offensive possession length (13.8 seconds per possession) and will not want to let Alabama even reach the 80-point mark.

In the 2019-20 season, Oats’ first season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide five games in which they scored 80+ points. Since that season, they are 53-4 SU when scoring 80+ points. When they have failed to hit the 80-point mark, they are just 27-23 SU, and last season, they were held under 70 points in five of the six games they lost, including their Sweet Sixteen loss to San Diego State.

There’s a lot to like about a team that is led a trio of returning players in Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr., and Zed Key, and an experienced Big Ten transfer in Jamison Battle (Minnesota).

Top Players for Ohio State

• Bruce Thornton: 15.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 1.8 SPG
• Roddy Gayle Jr.: 14.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.0 APG
• Zed Key: 11.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG
• Jamison Battle: 11.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG

I do think that the Buckeyes have the ability to keep this game competitive for at least a while, whether by scoring enough to stay in it or frustrating the Crimson Tide into mistakes and misses offensively.

But Alabama is firing on all cylinders right now, and I don’t think Ohio State will be able to limit them or frustrate them for 40 minutes.

Where to Bet on College Basketball

If you are looking for college basketball odds, you will always be spoiled for choice.

Sports betting sites all over the internet offer a vast array of NCAA basketball odds throughout the season, from the opening tip in November to the conclusion of the season in early April.

Along with being able to bet on countless games, many online sportsbooks offer men’s college basketball national championship odds, women’s college basketball national championship odds, men’s Wooden Award odds, women’s Wooden Award odds, and odds on who will win early season and conference tournaments.

Below are some of the books that we highly recommend for college basketball betting:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other College Basketball Content

• College Basketball Best Bets for November 24
• College Basketball Betting Guide
• Men’s Wooden Award Winner Odds
• Women’s Wooden Award Winner Odds