Opening Spread Favors Alabama in Sweet 16 Matchup Against BYU: Odds & Betting Lines

• The high-octane offenses of the #6 BYU Cougars and #2 Alabama Crimson Tide will meet in the Sweet 16
• Alabama is a slight favorite but the more intriguing line is the massive game total
• Below, see the opening BYU vs Alabama odds and betting lines for the 2025 NCAA Tournament

The #6 BYU Cougars (26-9, 22-13 ATS) parlayed a pair of dominant offensive performances into a berth in the 2025 Sweet 16. Next Thursday, the Cougars will face another potent attack when they square off with the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (27-8, 20-15 ATS) in the bottom-half of the East Region at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

The opening BYU vs Alabama odds slightly favor the Tide and, as expected, the over/under has been set at a big number.

Opening BYU vs Alabama Odds

The BYU vs Alabama spread has been set at Alabama -3.5 with the Tide sitting at -180 on the moneyline. The Cougars come back as +150 moneyline underdogs, meaning a successful bet on BYU to win would profit $150 on a $100 wager. The game total is currently 171.5, which is the highest number we’ve seen yet in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Odds as of March 23 at DraftKings. Check out SBD’s latest list of betting apps that accept Venmo.

BYU Explodes Against VCU, Wisconsin

Despite facing two solid defense in the first and second rounds, BYU dropped 80 in their opener (an 80-71 win over #11 VCU) and then poured in 91 against a stout #3 Wisconsin team (91-89). The Badgers were averaging just 70.9 points against per game and hadn’t surrendered more than 88 all year.

While the margin against the Badgers ended at just two points, BYU was full value for the win. They took an 11-point lead into halftime and Wisconsin didn’t make it a one-possession game until the final minute.

Leading scorer Richie Saunders (16.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.6 APG) had a team-high 16 against VCU and then dropped 25 against Wisconsin. The Cougars shot 49.5% from the field in the two games, combined, while holding their opponents to just 42.1%.

Alabama Blows Past Robert Morris, Saint Mary’s

Just like the Cougars, the Tide offense was electric through the first two rounds. Many expected Mark Sears (18.8 PPG, 5.1 APG) and company to put up a big number against #15 Robert Morris (90-81). Fewer were expecting an 80-point output against the slow-paced, defensively sound #7 Saint Mary’s Gaels (80-66).

Sears had a phenomenal 22-point, 10-assist, five-rebound performance against the Colonials. He was limited to 12 points against the Gaels but was picked up by Grant Nelson’s 12-point, eight-rebound performance in his first game back from injury, and Clifford Omoruyi’s 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

BYU vs Alabama Analytics Comparison

Both teams rate in the top ten in offensive efficiency at KenPom and considerably lower on defense. Alabama plays at the single-fastest tempo in all of Division I, while the Cougars are a far more conservative 177th. Alabama has also played the single-toughest schedule in the nation; BYU sits 46th.

In the highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup between Alabama and BYU, the opening spread heavily favors the Crimson Tide. According to the latest odds and betting lines, Alabama is currently listed as a 7-point favorite over BYU.

This should come as no surprise to college basketball fans, as Alabama has been one of the top teams in the country all season long. Led by head coach Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide have been dominant on both ends of the court, boasting one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation.

On the other hand, BYU has also had a strong season, but they will have their work cut out for them against a talented Alabama squad. The Cougars will need to rely on their sharpshooting and disciplined defense to keep pace with the Crimson Tide.

In terms of betting lines, the over/under for this game is currently set at 150 points. This suggests that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair between these two teams. Bettors may want to consider taking the over if they believe that both teams will be able to put up points in bunches.

As for the moneyline, Alabama is listed as a -300 favorite, meaning that bettors would need to wager $300 on the Crimson Tide to win $100. On the other hand, BYU is listed as a +250 underdog, meaning that a $100 bet on the Cougars would net a $250 profit if they were to pull off the upset.

Overall, this Sweet 16 matchup between Alabama and BYU promises to be an exciting and closely contested game. With the opening spread favoring the Crimson Tide, bettors may want to consider taking Alabama to cover the 7-point spread. However, with both teams capable of putting up points in a hurry, this game could easily go either way. It will certainly be one to watch for college basketball fans and bettors alike.