Alabama vs Gonzaga Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Tide outlast the Bulldogs in Birmingham?

With a number of great treats on today’s college basketball menu, there are several options for the potential best game of the day. But there is a high possibility that it will be this afternoon’s matchup in Birmingham between #4 Alabama and #15 Gonzaga.

The showdown between the Crimson Tide (9-1) and Bulldogs (8-3) is set to tip off at 1:00 pm ET (12:00 pm local time), and you can catch all of the action on CBS.

These two teams met in Seattle last December, and #16 Alabama scored a 91-82 upset win over #3 Gonzaga, who was favored by almost double digits. They then followed that win by edging out Houston at home in another matchup of highly ranked teams.

This year, the Tide will be looking to follow a win at Houston–with a midweek win over Memphis sandwiched between–with a win over the Zags, who have won three straight games since a loss to Baylor.

Who do we think will come out on top in Birmingham this afternoon? Read on for our Alabama vs Gonzaga prediction, along with our Crimson Tide vs Bulldogs betting picks and analysis.

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Alabama Crimson Tide vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 8:30 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Alabama -1.5 (-102)
• Gonzaga +1.5 (-120)

Over/Under

• Over 160.5 (-115)
• Under 160.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Alabama -110
• Gonzaga -110

Which Alabama Will We See in Birmingham?

If you were to ask me which college basketball team has the biggest discrepancy between their floor and their ceiling, Alabama would be at or near the top of my list.

That was especially evident in last Saturday’s 71-65 over #1 Houston. The Tide trailed 44-29 early in the second half, then outscored the Cougars 42-21 the rest of the way to pull off the stunning upset.

When things are good, they are really good. When things are not good, they can be really bad. There hasn’t been a lot of really bad thus far this season, but SEC play is still to come, and that’s where things really went downhill last season.

Their ceiling is at its highest when Brandon Miller is at his best. The fantastic freshman was 0 for 8 from the field against Houston, but Alabama survived with contributions up and down the lineup, just like they survived his 4 for 21 showing against North Carolina.

But Miller got back to business in Tuesday’s win over Memphis, with 24 points (7-13 FG, 4-8 3PT, 6-7 FT), eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.

Will he need to deliver a similar stat line for the Tide to come out on top in this matchup? If they put in another fine defensive performance like they did to turn things around at Houston, they might not.

Which Gonzaga Will We See in Birmingham?

If you were to ask me where Gonzaga sits on the list when it comes to the biggest discrepancy between floor and ceiling, they aren’t up there with Alabama, but they are up there.

The difference with Alabama is the fact that you don’t know yet if they’re going to capitulate in conference play again.

Of the nine players who have played the most minutes for the Tide, four are freshman and one of their returnees, Nimari Burnett, is out for six to eight weeks after injuring his left wrist. A lot could go wrong in the coming weeks for Alabama.

Gonzaga, for all of their ups and downs, are less likely to capitulate in the same way.

But how likely are we to see their ceiling? Not being able to score didn’t cost them against Michigan State, but it did against Baylor. And they were overrun defensively in their losses to Texas and Purdue.

Drew Timme is Drew Timme, and games like the one he had against Baylor, in which he scored a season-low nine points, took a season-low six shots, and fouled out, are not going to happen often.

But when it matters, are the others around him going to deliver offensively?

It’s certainly not a question of talent, but when you have seven guys who dominate the minutes, you need to be able to count on all of them to be able to step up with scoring at some point.

Alabama vs Gonzaga Prediction and Picks

Crimson Tide vs Bulldogs Prediction: Alabama to win

Crimson Tide vs Bulldogs Picks: Alabama ML (Best Value: -110 at BetOnline) & Drew Timme over 20.5 points (-111 at Bovada Sportsbook)

Based on what I have seen from these two teams thus far this season, I have more reason to believe in Alabama than I do Gonzaga.

I expect Timme to have a big game in Birmingham, but I don’t think it will be enough for the Bulldogs to get revenge for last year’s loss in Seattle.

I’d love to be proven wrong, just like I would love for Indiana to prove me wrong against Kansas. But Alabama’s comeback at Houston shows that this Tide team might have a little more mettle than last year’s team, and that mettle will see them through another tough test today.

While I don’t love Gonzaga today, I do love the value on some of their player props, which can be found at Bovada Sportsbook.

Timme has scored 20+ points seven times this season and has 29, 22, and 26 in his last three games.

There’s also great value on Rasir Bolton to go over 1.5 made threes. Bolton was 0 for 3 last time out against Northern Illinois, and he has gone three straight games without hitting multiple threes. But his scoring will be needed against Alabama, and odds beyond +130 are too good to pass up here.

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