Half-time report
There’s only one half left between Alabama and the victory they were favored to achieve this afternoon. They have a bit of a lead as they currently lead Kent State 39-24.
Alabama came into the game having won three straight and they are only one half away from each other. Will they make it to No. 4, or will Kent State step in and ruin it? We will know soon.
Who’s playing
Kent State Golden Flashes @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Current records: Kent State 8-2, Alabama 9-2
How to watch
- When: Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET
- Or: Coleman Coliseum – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- TV: SEC Network
- Follow: CBS Sports app
- Online broadcast: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket cost: $3.00
What you need to know
If the bettors’ predictions hold true, the near future looks bright for Alabama. They will be home for the holiday to greet the Kent State Golden Flashes on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Coleman Coliseum. Each of these teams will be fighting to maintain a three-game winning streak.
Alabama heads into Sunday’s game having posted an impressive 167.5 point over/under rating set for its last game against North Dakota. Alabama won against North Dakota by a score of 97-90 on Wednesday. After achieving such a high score, both teams may soon perform additional defensive drills.
Alabama earned its victory thanks to several key players, but it was Grant Nelson up front who had a double-double with 23 points and ten rebounds. Nelson struggled to find his feet against Creighton last Saturday, so this was a step in the right direction. Mark Sears was another key player, scoring 23 points along with five assists and two steals.
Meanwhile, Kent State made easy work of Mercyhurst on Sunday and cruised to an 82-57 victory. The Golden Flashes have made a habit of sweeping opponents off the field, having won three games by 19 points or more this season.
Kent State’s success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but VonCameron Davis led the charge by going 5 for 9 en route to 17 points plus two blocks. Another player who made the difference was Marquis Barnett, who recorded 15 points and five rebounds.
Kent State broke the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. This strong performance was nothing new for the team: they have now pulled down at least ten offensive rebounds in 11 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Alabama has had some incredibly good performances recently as they have won six of their last seven games, which has been a nice improvement to their 9-2 record this season. As for Kent State, their victory was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season, which improved their record to 8-2.
This competition is shaping up to be an explosion: Alabama simply cannot fail this season, having drained 47.3% of its field goals per game. It’s a different story for Kent State, as they’ve made just 40.7 percent of their field goals this season. Given Alabama’s considerable advantage in this area, Kent State will need to find a way to close that gap.
Odds
Alabama is a heavy 20.5-point favorite against Kent State, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The line drifted a bit toward the Crimson Tide, as the game opened with the Crimson Tide as an 18.5-point favorite.
The over/under is 154 points.
See college basketball picks for every game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get Picks Now.
