The second day of the First Round is set to tip off today, and the second game on the schedule is between the No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 15 seed Robert Morris Colonials.
The game is scheduled to start at 12:40 PM EST. The game will air on TruTV, with the victor facing the Saint Mary’s-Vanderbilt winner in the Second Round.
Oddsmakers favor Alabama as the Crimson Tide are 22 to 22.5-point favorites on the best March Madness betting sites. The over/under for the game can be found between 165.5 and 166.5 points, according to the latest March Madness odds.
Robert Morris vs. Alabama predictions and best bets
- Alabama -12.5 first half: -110 at Caesars
- Under 166.5: -114 at FanDuel
- Kam Woods Over 14.5 Points: -120 at BetMGM
Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find while writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.
Alabama is quick out of the gates. The Tide’s +6.8 average first-half margin ranks 14th in the country, while Robert Morris is 144th with an average margin of +0.9 against weaker competition. I like the Crimson Tide to get out to an early lead and establish control of this game in the first 20 minutes of play.
Oddsmakers have this matchup tied for the most expected points scored today, but through the first day of action, there wasn’t a single game that was this high-scoring. Alabama has the firepower to run up the total, but this line is far too high and has me rolling with the under.
Robert Morris runs its offense through Kam Woods, who has scored 15 or more points in his last six games. The senior guard was on fire during the team’s run through the Horizon League conference tournament and should keep his play against Mark Sears in a big-time matchup for the program.
Robert Morris vs. Alabama moneyline analysis
Why Alabama could win as the favorite
Best odds: -1500 at Fanatics
Alabama is the heavy betting favorite today with a line of -1500, but there are no easy victories in March. Luckily, the Crimson Tide have the number one scoring offense in the country to rely on today when they tip off against Robert Morris.
The team turned in an impressive 25-8 season, with a large part of the schedule coming against the toughest conference in college basketball. The team proved legitimate as its only losses came against Quad 1 opponents. The team was 14-0 against teams outside that quadrant– this game against Robert Morris falls in Quad 3.
The Crimson Tide is led by All-American Mark Sears, the fifth-year point guard who averages 18.7 points and 4.9 assists per game. However, the team has four other players who average double digits.
Alabama projects well to dominate this game on the glass. The Crimson Tide average more rebounds per game than any other team in the country, and Robert Morris is at a clear size disadvantage in the paint. Look for Alabama to potentially run away with this one if the Colonials can’t find a way to keep this rebound matchup close.
Why Robert Morris could win as the underdog
Best odds: +1050 at Caesars
Robert Morris turned in a strong season, going 26-8 on the year and winning the Horizon League after knocking off Youngstown State 89-78 in the conference championship. The team does a nice job of creating opportunities for itself, ranking inside the top 40 for assists and offensive rebounds per game.
Momentum favors the Colonials, as Robert Morris is on a 10-game winning streak, while Alabama has dropped three of its last five contests. While the program has faced just one Q1 opponent this season, it was undefeated against Q2 opponents while on the road in both games.
Robert Morris has a well-balanced lineup with six players averaging eight or more points per contest. The team’s leading scorer is Kam Woods, a senior guard who averages 15 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. His play against Sears will be pivotal to the team’s chances of winning today.
You shouldn’t count out the Colonials if they manage to keep this game close through the first half. The team ranks inside the top 25 for average second-half margin with +4.7– Alabama is ranked 67th with a +2.7 margin.
It won’t be easy for Robert Morris as the No. 15 seed has only successfully advanced to the Second Round 11 times since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. However, three of those upsets have come in the last four years, so momentum could be building for the underdogs.
