Texas Tech vs Alabama Prediction, Picks & Odds for Sunday's March Madness Game

Chris Hatfield - Contributor at Covers.com
Chris Hatfield • Betting Analyst 12+ years betting experience
Updated: Mar 21, 2026 , 02:03 PM ET • 4 min read

Find out why the Red Raiders will run away from the Crimson Tide on Sunday night, per our college basketball expert.

NCAAB

Match starts: 30 hrs
TTU
54 %
ALA
46 %
EXPERT PICK - MONEYLINE
Texas Tech -127 Texas Tech -127
Read Analysis
Texas Tech Red Raiders Donovan Atwell NCAAM
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Donovan Atwell.

While the spread may suggest it, Alabama and Texas Tech will meet in the NCAA Tournament in a game that’s not a coin flip.

Alabama remains without Aden Holloway, and Tech has the defensive profile to keep the Tide from rolling — literally.

My Texas Tech vs. Alabama predictions and March Madness picks break down why I like Texas Tech to head to the Sweet 16 on Sunday, March 22. 

Texas Tech vs Alabama prediction

Who will win Texas Tech vs Alabama?

Texas Tech: They put a chokehold on Alabama in transition and will keep them from scoring regularly in the halfcourt. Nate Oats schemes well enough for a long portion of the game, but eventually the damn breaks and Alabama can’t defend well enough on the other end.

Texas Tech vs Alabama best bet: Texas Tech moneyline (-127)

The Texas Tech Red Raidersattack-and-kick offense ranks No. 1 in the country. Every drive-and-kick is producing an open look, and Tech has the shooters to make the Alabama Crimson Tide pay all afternoon.

Alabama wants to play in transition, but doing so without Aden Holloway forces the team to rely even more on transition plays, limiting their halfcourt options. The Red Raiders' top-tier transition defense, which allows just 1 point per possession, could be a deciding factor.

Given Alabama's shorthanded roster, I don’t think they can score enough in the halfcourt to keep pace. 

Covers COVERS INTEL: Alabama is yet again a team with one of the highest 3-point rates in the country (fifth nationally), while Texas Tech allows the 47th-lowest 3-point rate in college basketball.

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Texas Tech vs Alabama same-game parlay

One reason Texas Tech has one of the best attack-and-kick offenses in the country is that they have one of the best 3-point shooters in the land.

Donovan Atwell enters this game shooting over 45% from deep on high volume. Alabama has struggled against spray-outs all season, so this pairing fits nicely. 

Texas Tech vs Alabama SGP

  • Texas Tech moneyline
  • Donovan Atwell Over 3.5 threes

Texas Tech vs Alabama odds

  • Spread: Texas Tech -1 | Alabama +1
  • Moneyline: Texas Tech -120 | Alabama +100
  • Over/Under: Over 165 | Under 165

Texas Tech vs Alabama betting trend to know

Alabama has hit the 1H Under in 11 of its last 17 games (+4.05 Units / 21% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas Tech vs. Alabama.

How to watch Texas Tech vs Alabama

Location Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date Sunday, March 22, 2026
Tip-off 9:45 p.m. ET
TV TBS

Texas Tech vs Alabama key injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Chris Hatfield - Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Chris has always had a passion for three things: solving problems, sports, and writing. It’s no wonder then that he found himself attracted to the sports betting industry. You can find Chris betting every day. Whether it’s shot prop markets in Champions League Soccer qualifiers or NBA Summer League, he has no offseason. As an EV+ bettor, he especially values the insight gained through a data-driven approach.

His work has been featured on various websites such as SBNation, Rivals, Bleacher Report, and 247Sports. He has appeared on radio outlets such as ESPN 680 and The Sharp 600 podcast. You can listen to his own podcast, “What High School Did You Go To?” on Apple Podcast and Soundcloud.

Chris has carved out a niche as a college basketball originator with massive profitability success in that sport and stresses one piece of advice to sports bettors: exploit edges as broadly as possible and take advantage of them while they last. His preferred sportsbook is bet365 because of the range of markets you can find.

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