Alabama vs. BYU Sweet 16 Clash: High-Stakes Game Preview

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00:00It's Alabama and BYU, the two seed in the East region, facing the sixth seed in the Cougars

00:07out of the Big 12. Five and a half points spread in favor of the tied DRS, but really every eyeball

00:13should pay attention to that very big number in the middle. 175 and a half. Offense expected DRS.

00:22What do we need to have a clean ride to even approach that total tonight in the Rock?

00:27One of the best handicap games I believe in this entire Sweet 16 matchup is BYU versus Alabama,

00:33and it's going to be very aesthetically pleasing because you know me, I love the three-point shot.

00:36I love teams that get up and down the court. Both of these teams do that, and it should be

00:40fantastic to watch you play out. Some people look at that 175 and a half and say, okay, neutral

00:44court, new site here, a couple days to prepare. Other teams' defenses will get your offensive

00:48sets here, and you just need a little bit of a slow start in this game to hit the 175 and a half.

00:53I won't be betting the total on this one, but I do think there is a decisive side. This game opened

00:57up here at the FanDuel Sportsbook at minus four and a half to five and a half, and I agree with

01:01that line movement because it comes down to two things. These offenses are really good, Ben,

01:04as you know. Top 10 in efficiency in the country. Alabama four, BYU number nine. The differences

01:10start to come in on defense where Alabama is a much better defensive footprint than BYU,

01:14but understand what BYU likes to do. Shoot the three-point shot, shoot it with volume,

01:18and make it with volume. One team in Alabama will chase you off the three-point line and defend

01:23the three-point line, which is key because when you set up Alabama's offense on their side,

01:27they're a wonderful offense. They love to shoot the three-point shot, make a fair amount. BYU lets

01:32you take the three-point shot and doesn't defend it all that well. The athletes, the style of play

01:37for Alabama tonight really favors them. If you're looking at saying, I think BYU can win this game

01:43outright, then maybe that's the side you should go down, but for me, if I'm picking Alabama to win

01:47this game, which I am, and it falls within that, you know, six, seven, eight-point margin where the

01:52fouls will add up at the end, where you're hoping for a BYU three to go down late and it gets the

01:56cover, so be it. But my handicap tells me Alabama's the better team tonight. The styles make the

02:02fight, and that style's for Alabama tonight. They win and cover and move on.