We’re down to 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament. While there haven’t been any Cinderella runs or massive upsets, it’s still been an exciting tournament. Maryland added a buzzer-beater, and many games relied on the final possession in the Round of 32.
That said, the East Region still has its No. 1 and No. 2 teams. But No. 3 Wisconsin dropped a two-point loss to BYU and won’t be in the Sweet 16.
Instead, the East Region will feature No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona and No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU.
I’ve got the best bet for both matchups in the East Region. And below we dive into 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game BYU vs. Alabama.
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NCAA Tournament Best Sweet 16 Bets: BYU vs. Alabama
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
BYU vs. Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide escaped Robert Morris in the first round and took care of business against Saint Mary’s in the second round. Alabama has Grant Nelson back and has shot the ball very well over the first two games. It’s what the Crimson Tide do. They’ve knocked down 35% from deep and 60% from inside the arc throughout the season. This is significant since the BYU Cougars have watched teams shoot 35% from downtown against them this season.
That said, Alabama is usually aggressive on the offensive glass, but the Crimson Tide will have to battle a BYU defense, allowing only 26.2% of offensive rebounds per game this season.
On the other hand, BYU might not be as fast-paced as Alabama, but its offense is also one of the best in the country. The Cougars have shot 37.3% from deep and 58.4% from inside the arc. BYU doesn’t get to the foul line as much as Alabama but should end up with more offensive rebounds in this game. Additionally, I’d expect BYU to limit turnovers more and win in that category, too.
The Crimson Tide will likely win if Alabama hits their threes all game. But in any other scenario, I like BYU’s chances. The Cougars are efficient on the glass and have also held teams to 49.3% from inside the arc. Nothing will be easy for Alabama inside, even for Clifford Omoruyi, who has had a field day over the first two games in the NCAA Tournament.
I’ll take my chances with BYU +4.5.
Pick: BYU +4.5 (-105)
