Maryland Terrapins vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview

The 10th-seeded Maryland Terrapins (17-13) built a big lead and held off Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, while the second-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (25-6) had to wait until the second half to pull away from upset-minded Iona. The Crimson Tide and the Terrapins meet in the second round on Monday, with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16 to face the winner of UCLA vs. Abilene Christan. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 pm ET Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and will be televised on TNT.

These teams last met in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, with Maryland winning 58-57. Prior to that, they played in 2011, with the Crimson Tide winning at home by 20. 

Maryland Defense Shines

Maryland is 13-16 ATS this season and 6-7 away from home. Maryland has been outrebounded on the season, and it was minus-11 on the glass in the first round but still won 63-54. The Terrapins hit 50% of their three-pointers against Connecticut and shot 51.2 percent overall.

The Terrapins have the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Darryl Morsell, and they got it done defensively in the first round. Maryland held Connecticut to 32.3 percent shooting, and Morsell frustrated the Huskies' leading scorer, James Bouknight, into 6-for-16 shooting and 1-of-6 from deep. 

Guard Eric Ayala had 23 in the first-round win and leads Maryland at 15 points per game on the season. Guard Aaron Wiggins was right at his 14-point average against the Huskies and has turned in some big games over the last two weeks. 

Maryland is 7-3 in its last 10 games with losses to Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State. The Terrapins will be tested in their three-point defense against Alabama and need a repeat performance as they had against the Huskies to advance. 

Tide Play the Perimeter Game

Alabama did not cover in the opening round, and it is 17-13-1 ATS on the season. The Crimson Tide are 13-5 away from Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide offense ranks 31st in scoring at 79.6 points per game and 32nd in rebounding at 36.1 per game. 

Alabama shoots nearly 36 percent from deep, and it makes 10.3 shots per game from three-point range. The Crimson Tide did not shoot the ball well against Iona, going 5-of-16 from deep and 13-of 23 (56.5%) from the free-throw line. 

They were plus-16 on the glass and will give Maryland issues in rebounding on Monday.

Herbert Jones scored 20 against Iona, while Jahvon Quinerly scored 11 off the bench. Jaden Shackelford, who leads the Tide with 14.1 points per game, was just 1-of-5 from deep and finished with 10 points. 

John Petty Jr. also struggled from the field and finished with 10 points, 2.2 below his season average. 

Betting Analysis

If this game turns into a three-point shooting contest, then the Crimson Tide have a clear advantage. They want to play a perimeter game, grab rebounds and find the open outside shots. 

Maryland kept Connecticut from doing that in the first round, but now the opponent is a little bit better and more explosive in the Tide. Look for the No. 2 seed to advance. 

Free Pick: Alabama to cover

For more NCAA picks, check out our NCAA picks page.

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