One of the best teams in the country, the Alabama Crimson Tide, will host the Big South’s UNC Asheville at Coleman Coliseum at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
The Tide are ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll, while the Bulldogs are projected to finish fourth in the Big South, according to the preseason coaches poll.
The Tide are favored by 24.5 points on the spread. Also, the total checks in at 160.5.
Here is my UNC Asheville vs. Alabama predictions and my college basketball picks for Monday.
UNC Asheville vs Alabama Prediction
My pick: Alabama -24.5
My UNC Asheville vs Alabama best bet is on the Crimson 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.
UNC Asheville vs Alabama Odds, Lines, Pick
| UNC Asheville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+27.5 -110 | 162.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-27.5 -110 | 162.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
- UNC Asheville vs Alabama spread: Alabama -27.5
- UNC Asheville vs Alabama over/under: 162.5 points
- UNC Asheville vs Alabama best bet: Alabama -24.5
Spread
I'm targeting Alabama to blow out UNC Asheville, covering the 24.5-point spread in the process.
Moneyline
Obviously, the moneyline has no value in this matchup. I'm targeting the spread.
Over/Under
The total isn't getting a look from me, as I am targeting Alabama on the spread.
My pick: Alabama -24.5 (Play to -25)
UNC Asheville vs Alabama Betting Trends to Know
- 86% of the bets and 52% of the money is on UNC Asheville ATS.
- 60% of the bets and 60% of the money is on the under.
UNC Asheville vs Alabama Start Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Date: | Monday, November 4 |
| Start Time: | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPNU |
UNC Asheville vs Alabama is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET start time, live from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL, on Monday. The game is live on ESPNU.
UNC Asheville vs Alabama College Basketball Betting Preview
UNC Asheville Basketball
The Bulldogs will desperately miss back-to-back Big South Player of the Year Drew Pember. The forward averaged 20.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game in 2023-24, doing it all for a team that finished second in the Big South.
While there’s no way to single-handedly replace Pember, Mike Morrell’s bunch still has some semblance of talent, especially in the backcourt.
The Bulldogs have Loyola Marymount transfer Justin Wright and sharpshooters Fletcher Abee and Josh Banks.
In addition, Morrell added transfers from App State (Jordan Marsh), Rhode Island (Connor Dubsky) and Cincinnati (7-foot-1 Sage Tolentino).
This team is not bare in the cupboard, but again, the loss of Pember makes the Bulldogs a mid-tier Big South team.
Alabama Basketball
Alabama is still a football school, but its basketball program has even higher expectations in 2024-25.
The Tide brought back three of their top six scorers (including Player of the Year candidate Mark Sears) from last season’s Final Four team, added one of the best players in the transfer portal (Clifford Omoruyi) and supplemented the roster with other additions like Chris Youngblood (USF), Aden Holloway (Auburn) and a loaded recruiting class headlined by five-star small forward Derrion Reid.
Nate Oats changed the trajectory of the SEC with his quick, 3-point-based offense — and this roster perfectly fits his scheme.
What makes Alabama so dangerous starts with Sears. The former Ohio transfer averaged nearly 22 points per game last season, including playing his best in the biggest of games. Sears averaged 24.2 points in five NCAA Tournament games and scored 30+ points in four separate outings throughout the season.
While Sears is the head of the snake, Grant Nelson is also back to help anchor the frontcourt. A lot was put on Nelson’s shoulders down low last season, but that won’t be the case for him in 2024-25.
With Omoruyi coming over from Rutgers, that gives Nelson an experienced rebounding partner while allowing him to stretch the floor more often.
Omoruyi also gives the Tide another dimension defensively. Their guards are now able to gamble more on the perimeter and pressure opposing ball handlers while Omoruyi stands as a shot-blocker in the paint.
Finally, with the Tide’s game plan centered around 3-point shooting, having Youngblood and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. as extra offensive options makes the Tide a clear-cut top-10 team.
And don't forget about Labaron Philon, as the freshman is earning rave practice reviews (even more so than Reid).
UNC Asheville vs Alabama Betting Analysis
The first thing to monitor for this matchup is the injuries. Nelson and Wrightsell are game-time decisions while Youngblood won't play until December because of an ankle injury.
Regardless, this is a bad spot for the Bulldogs. Obviously, the Tide have way more talent and athleticism than Morrell’s team, but Asheville is also playing in its first game without Pember. The Bulldogs won’t be awful this season; however, they’re going to need time to adjust without having a do-it-all player like Pember.
While this matchup will be good for the Bulldogs’ program in the long run, Oats’ squad is likely going to run them out of the gym.
Sears and Nelson (I think he'll play) already have a plethora of chemistry, and the Tide are deep, which means even when they go to their bench late in a blowout, the backdoor may not be open.
Getting more run for the freshmen here will likely be the game plan in the second half for Oats, but remember, Reid and Aiden Sherrell are McDonald’s All-American’s and Philon and Naasir Cunningham are four-star talents. That outmatches whatever Asheville can throw onto the hardwood.
