Alabama vs Houston -8 O/U 138
This is a pretty high spread when looking at two kenpom top 14 teams. The question is if it is warranted? I am going to say yet it is. Alabama has run through some rough teams with wins vs Michigan State, North Carolina in overtime and a nasty loss to UCONN, but this is a situation where they are a true road team only for the second time this year and during the first time, they didn’t cover against South Alabama only putting up 65 points. Alabama is a well coached team that plays very fast basketball, but with speed comes with slop as this team turns the ball over 21.5% of possessions ranking 303rd in the nation. Houston on the other hand has a ball hawking defense ranking number 2 in efficiency and number 5 in forcing steals. The fact that Alabama plays fast might get them in a lot of trouble here. Houston is the number 1 team in the nation and they have the opportunity to stamp that tonight. Houston’s best player in Marcus Sasser did injury his eye, but it looked like the injury was more around his eye and he is playing today. Gonna take the Cougs laying the points.
Houston -8 – 2 stars
