Bears, Crimson Tide Battle in SEC/Big 12 Challenge
Baylor on Three-Game Win Streak
The No. 4 Baylor Bears step outside of Big 12 play to take on the struggling Alabama Crimson Tide in a non-conference matchup on Saturday. The opening tip for this contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Baylor (18-2) has won three straight after a two-game losing streak, including a 74-49 rout of the Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday night. The Bears are 6-2 in Big 12 play, sitting a half-game behind the first-place Kansas Jayhawks.
The Crimson Tide (13-7) have been having their troubles since a 9-2 start, dropping five of their last nine, including an 82-76 loss against the host Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Alabama is just 4-4 in SEC contests, putting it four games behind the first-place Auburn Tigers in the league standings.
If you want to bet online on this contest, the college basketball lines have the Bears as 3½-point favorites, with the over/under set at 150½ points. A moneyline bet would get you Baylor at -170, while Alabama is listed at +150.
Shutting Them Down
The Bears defense has been at its best over the last two games, holding its last two opponents to an average of 50 points per game. The win over Kansas State was Baylor’s first after dropping two straight games in Waco, the team’s only two setbacks this season.
“Well, we like this feeling a little bit better than the last two home games,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said after Tuesday’s win. “I think our defense has been ticking up on the uptick. We’ve been doing a good job addressing some fundamentals we had kind of lapsed on.”
Baylor is second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 59.3 points per game. That defense usually leads to offense, as the Bears are also second in the conference in scoring at 78.7 points per contest.
Guard LJ Cryer leads a balanced Baylor attack, averaging 13.9 points and hitting 46.7% from 3-point range. The Bears’ 8.8 made 3-pointers as a team leads the Big 12.
Guard James Akinjo is scoring 13.2 points per game while leading the team in both assists (5.6) and steals (2.2) per contest. Akinjo can be aggressive on both ends of the floor, making an opponent feel uncomfortable.
Home Cookin’
While Alabama has been having its troubles winning games on the road, it hasn’t been the case at home. The Crimson Tide are 9-1 at Coleman Coliseum this season, and the crowd will certainly be loud for an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup with a top-five team in the country.
Also up for the game will be junior guard Jaden Shackelford, who is leading the Crimson Tide in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Shackelford has averaged 22.3 points over his last three games, and his season high of 28 points helped Alabama upset Gonzaga earlier this season.
The Crimson Tide will get a little help up front with forward Juwan Gary expected to return to the lineup after missing the last two games with a facial injury. Gary, who averages 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds, will wear a protective mask when he returns to the court.
Guard Jahvon Quinerly will be a key against a ferocious Baylor defense. Quinerly is averaging 14.3 points and a team-high 4.3 assists, but he also leads the Crimson Tide with 2.8 turnovers per game, something that could be costly against the Bears.
Baylor Earns Road Win
The Bears have seemingly turned things around after a pair of rough outings earlier this month. The defense should be enough to carry Baylor to a road win, though Alabama’s high-scoring offense (81.1 points per game) won’t make it easy.
When doing your college basketball betting, take Baylor to win and cover on the road.
