Very few things on the sports calendar can match the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament. So why not add betting to the mix via the college basketball odds at FanDuel Sportsbook?

The 2024 edition of the big dance has arrived, and here at FanDuel Research, we'll have you covered with a betting guide for each game.

All college basketball odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook, and lines may change after this article is published.

NCAA Tournament Betting Picks

Grand Canyon vs. Alabama Betting Odds

Date and Time: Sunday, March 24th (7:10 p.m. Eastern)

Spread: Alabama -6.5 (-110)

Total: 168.5

Moneyline:

• Grand Canyon: +210
• Alabama: -260

Grand Canyon vs. Alabama Statistical Breakdown

Advanced stats from KenPom, Bart Torvik and numberFire.

Grand Canyon

• numberFire Ranking: 53rd
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 70th
• KenPom Ranking: 53rd
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 51st
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 63rd
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 134th

Alabama

• numberFire Ranking: 11th
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 15th
• KenPom Ranking: 13th
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 112th
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 2nd
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 9th

Grand Canyon vs. Alabama Best Bet

Alabama -6.5 (-110)

The Grand Canyon Antelopes pulled off the classic 12-over-5 upset against the Saint Mary's Gaels (75-66) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and now draw a matchup with the high-scoring Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama racked up 109 points in their opening game against the Charleston Cougars (who scored 96 points of their own -- though 62 of those came in the second half after Bama led by 17 at the break).

Scoring points is what the Crimson Tide does. They average a nation-best 90.8 points per game while playing at one of the fastest paces in the country.

Their games have averaged a combined 172.8 points. Grand Canyon has a respectable offense (63rd in adjusted efficiency), and in 10 games against teams ranked 40th to 90th (to get a bit of a comparison set), Alabama games have scored an average of 172.0 points.

That's why the total is 168.5.

But Grand Canyon's own scoring issues are enough to make me want to go away from the over -- and targeting an under for a team as fast and as good as Alabama offensively isn't where I want to go, either.

Rather, it's the overall skill gap that stands out most here.

Alabama is a top-15 team anywhere you look that deals with advanced analytics. Grand Canyon is outside the top 50.

My model thinks Alabama should be favored by 8.3 points and sees them covering 6.5 points around 56.5% of the time.

Grand Canyon's upset over Saint Mary's came against a team 354th nationally in pace, and this stylistic whiplash could prove daunting for a Lopes team that played a seven-man rotation in the opener. They don't go deep to the bench often, and the pace and depth gap here helps point to Alabama having an advantage.

Grand Canyon vs. Alabama Prop Bet

Mark Sears Over 30.5 Points, Rebounds, and Assists (-104)

Mark Sears racked up 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in Alabama's opening win over the College of Charleston, good for 39 total points, rebounds, and assists (PRA).

Sears has averaged "only" 29.5 PRA on the full season. However, in 10 games against teams 25th to 75th in adjusted defense, his average is up to 31.6, and he's at 31.3 in 24 games with at least 30 minutes (he played 32 against Charleston).

Sears, in total, has averaged 32.2 PRA in 12 games since the start of February while netting at least 31 in 7 of those 12.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.