With the March Madness bracket finally set, let's take a closer look at the first-round matchup between 1-seed Alabama and the winner of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs Southeast Missouri State in the First Four ahead of the 2023 NCAA Tournament below.
Find one of our expert's projected odds, another's instant reaction, and how these teams match up below to start making your betting and bracket picks.
Projected Alabama vs Texas A&M-CC or SE Missouri State Odds
| Projected Alabama vs Texas A&M-CC Odds | Alabama -26.5 | |
| Projected Alabama vs SE Missouri State Odds | Alabama -31 | |
| March Madness projections as of Selection Sunday. Find the latest NCAA Tournament projections here. | ||
Statistical Matchup
| Alabama | Texas A&M-CC | |
| 4 | Tempo | 80 |
| OFF | DEF | |
| 66 | eFG% | 276 |
| 241 | TO% | 52 |
| 44 | R% | 156 |
| 48 | FTR | 319 |
| DEF | OFF | |
| 1 | eFG% | 144 |
| 310 | TO % | 161 |
| 122 | R% | 58 |
| 221 | FTR | 89 |
| All statistics courtesy of ShotQuality. | ||
Statistical Matchup
| Alabama | Southeast Missouri St. | |
| 4 | Tempo | 7 |
| OFF | DEF | |
| 66 | eFG% | 240 |
| 241 | TO% | 123 |
| 44 | R% | 158 |
| 48 | FTR | 355 |
| DEF | OFF | |
| 1 | eFG% | 212 |
| 310 | TO % | 110 |
| 122 | R% | 284 |
| 221 | FTR | 31 |
| All statistics courtesy of ShotQuality. | ||
Instant Analysis
Alabama is known for a few stylistic choices in the Nate Oats era. Each of these possible opponents would accentuate one of those quirks.
If the Crimson Tide play Southeast Missouri State, Alabama’s pace will come to the forefront. The Redhawks play at the seventh-fastest pace in the country. Alabama is even quicker, ranking fourth nationally in tempo. The total on this game would be sky high and would really only come down to when Oats steps off the gas. Alabama beat LSU by 50 earlier this year. I’m not sure Oats knows how to hit the brakes.
If it’s Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, then we’ll see Alabama’s love of the long ball. The Tide famously practice with a 4-point line and Oats empowers his guys to launch threes nonstop. Bama shot threes at a higher rate than all but seven teams in the country.
The Islanders allowed their Southland Conference opponents to shoot behind the arc at the highest rate in the league. The Tide would be licking their chops, once again, making this look like a sure-fire over.
For more coverage of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and Selection Sunday, make sure to check out our experts' live reactions to the bracket reveal and the Selection Sunday live show, where you can get their instant analysis on every matchup as well as some early insights to help you make your bets.
Don't forget to print out your 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket, as well — and while you're there, enter the bet 365 Bracket Challenge content for your chance to win up to $10,000,000. Enter for free at actionnetwork.com/bracket.
