Hofstra Pride vs Alabama Crimson Tide NCAAB Betting Pick & Prediction for 3/20

The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament kicks off with an exciting first-round game between the Hofstra Pride and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Hofstra enters as the 13 seed, representing the Coastal Athletic Association, with a strong regular-season record of 24-10. They will face the 4 seed Alabama, ranked #18 in the AP poll, who comes from the Southeastern Conference and finished their season with a 23-9 record. The game will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, and fans can catch the action on truT at 3:15 PM ET on March 20, 2026.

Hofstra’s standout player, Cruz Davis, has been a key performer, averaging 20.2 points per game. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. leads their scoring efforts with 21.7 points per game. Both teams are eager to advance in this Midwest Region matchup, aiming to start their postseason journey on a high note. This game is sure to be an exciting contest with both teams looking to make their mark in the tournament.

Hofstra Pride vs Alabama Crimson Tide Game Day Info

  • Sport: NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball
  • Teams: Hofstra Pride vs Alabama Crimson Tide
  • Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa FL
  • Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Alabama -11.5, Hofstra +11.5, Over/Under 159.5

Hofstra Pride Team Preview

The Hofstra Pride are coming off a strong streak with three consecutive wins. They managed to defeat Monmouth Hawks with a score of 75-69, Towson Tigers at 68-65, and William & Mary Tribe by a wide margin of 92-61. This recent performance has boosted their confidence going into the next games.

Preston Edmead has been a standout player for the Pride. In the recent game against Monmouth, he scored 26 points and played for the entire game. Cruz Davis also contributed significantly, especially in the game against William & Mary, where he scored 30 points.

On the season, Hofstra averages 75.6 points per game and is ranked 211th in this category. They are also notable for their three-point shooting, making 9.5 per game. Defensively, they might need to improve as they average only 5 steals per game, placing them at 303rd.

Alabama Crimson Tide Team Preview

The Alabama Crimson Tide recently played three games at home and away. They lost to Ole Miss by a single point, with a final score of 80-79. Labaron Philon Jr. led the team with 28 points, shooting 56.2% from the field.

Earlier, Alabama had a strong win against Auburn, scoring 96 points to Auburn’s 84. The team shot 52.2% from the field, with both Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway scoring 21 points each. Amari Allen contributed 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.

In their game against Georgia, Alabama lost 98-88. Despite the loss, Labaron Philon Jr. scored 26 points and had 4 rebounds. The team’s field goal percentage was 39.1% in this game.

BTB Betting Pick

Alabama is favored by 11.5 points against Hofstra. Alabama averages 91.7 points per game, ranking 3rd, while Hofstra scores 75.6 points per game. Given Alabama’s strong offense and Hofstra’s defensive struggles, picking Alabama to cover the spread of -11.5 seems reasonable. A projected score could be Alabama 92, Hofstra 78.

The over/under for this game is set at 159.5. Alabama and Hofstra combined for an average of 167.3 points per game this season. With Alabama’s high-scoring offense and fast pace, the game could surpass the total. Therefore, taking the over at 159.5 is a solid choice.