The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, AL. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Alabama is favored by 13.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1000. The total is set at 165.5 points.
Here are my Oklahoma vs. Alabama predictions and college basketball picks for January 4, 2025.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Odds
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -115 | 165.5 -110 / -110 | +650 |
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -105 | 165.5 -110 / -110 | -1000 |
- Oklahoma vs Alabama spread: Alabama -13.5
- Oklahoma vs Alabama over/under: 165.5 points
- Oklahoma vs Alabama moneyline: Alabama -1000, Oklahoma +650
- Oklahoma vs Alabama best bet: Alabama -12.5 (Play to -13)
My Oklahoma vs Alabama best bet is on the Tide spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Oklahoma vs Alabama College Basketball Betting Preview
Revenge is difficult to quantify in the transfer portal age of college basketball. With the year-to-year roster turnover, few players – and even coaches – last long enough at any one school to avenge prior-season losses.
But at least two gentlemen on the Alabama bench will be looking to settle the score with Oklahoma on Saturday night: Mark Sears and Nate Oats.
Oklahoma smashed Alabama nearly two years ago in Norman, whomping the eventual one-seeded Tide by 24 points. Sears was the only current Alabama player to compete in that game, but the two coaches on the sideline remain the same.
Perhaps it means nothing, but basketball is a competitive, emotional sport. You can bet Oats and Sears have that result on their minds.
The Sooners enter this game as one of three remaining unbeatens in the country. Those other two schools — Tennessee and Florida — rank third and sixth in KenPom, respectively. Oklahoma ranks 41.
Are the Sooners punching above their weight class? Or is this Oklahoma squad a legit threat to contend for an SEC title?
Oklahoma faces an extremely difficult challenge tonight. Not only will the Sooners deploy an up-tempo offense against one of the best running programs in the country, but they’re also playing in their first true road game of the season.
The lion’s share of Oklahoma's half-court offense relies on ball screens for a reclassified freshman point guard, Jeremiah Fears. While he’s passed every test this year with flying colors, maintaining poise in front of a hostile Alabama crowd will be his toughest challenge yet.
Thankfully for Oklahoma, this Alabama squad doesn’t force turnovers (just 332nd nationally in turnover rate). Oklahoma should be able to at least get a shot off on every possession, though the Tide take away the 3-point arc extremely well and have one of the better rim protectors in the country in Clifford Omoruyi.
Jalon Moore’s ability to play on the perimeter and beat his man off the bounce is likely Oklahoma’s best path to points. Grant Nelson is not the fleetest of foot, nor the best one-on-one defender, and Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser is renowned for his ability to identify and attack mismatches.
On the other end, Alabama is one of the toughest teams in the nation to stop. The Tide have a top-five offense fueled by a truly devastating transition attack.
Freshman guard Labaron Philon is an absolute blur in the open floor, sophomore guard Aden Holloway has improved by leaps and bounds after a tough rookie season and Sears is a bona fide All-American.
Even with the stellar play of Fears and transfers Kobe Elvis and Duke Miles, the Tide have by far the better backcourt in this matchup.
Oats is known for his 3-point barrage on the offensive end, but his teams can also get efficient looks inside the paint. Alabama is No. 1 in the country in 2-point field goal percentage, a very good indicator of offensive success, as it includes far less variance than 3-point field goal percentage.
Oklahoma lacks any semblance of rim protection and ranks in just the 37th percentile nationally in field goal percentage allowed at the rim (CBB Analytics). The Tide shouldn't have any issues scoring at the bucket and should win the glass battle if or when outside shots aren’t falling.
There's simply too much firepower for Oklahoma to handle.
The Tide are a dangerous team and will be hungry to start league play off on the right foot. This promises to be a high-possession game, which should play right into the hands of the elephants.
Moser is a brilliant coach, but his offensive options pale in comparison to Oats’, and his defense is the weakest it’s ever been during his Oklahoma tenure.
Expect an extension late for Alabama as it cruises to victory in this SEC battle.
Pick: Alabama -12.5 (Play to -13)
