When SEC fans anticipate an LSU-Alabama rematch, they typically think football. But Wednesday’s college basketball clash between the Tigers and Crimson Tide has generated plenty of hype.
It also has dredged up memories — both pleasant and painful, depending on your rooting interest — of last year’s thrilling finale in the SEC tournament. On Selection Sunday, Alabama squeaked past LSU, and subsequently earned a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament.
The stakes for Wednesday are slightly different: The Crimson Tide, who were ranked No. 6 nationally just five weeks ago, are fighting for high-end survival in the SEC standings following three straight defeats that knocked them out of the Top 25 poll. Meanwhile, LSU is just 3-2 in SEC play after starting the season 12-0.
Props.com breaks down the Wednesday college basketball betting odds for LSU-Alabama, along with Kentucky’s road clash against an early undefeated SEC rival.
Odds via FanDuel and updated as of 5:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 19.
No. 13 LSU Vs Alabama
Tipoff/TV: 7 p.m. ET/ESPN2
LSU: 15-2 SU (3-2 SEC)/13-4 ATS
Alabama: 11-6 SU (2-3 SEC)/7-10 ATS
Spread/Total: Alabama -4/148 (Under-114)
Last Meeting: Alabama outlasted LSU 80-79 as a 6-point favorite in last year’s SEC title game (March 14, 2021)
About LSU: The Tigers are 8-2 SU/7-3 ATS since Dec. 1, despite ranking just seventh in the SEC in scoring offense (75.1 ppg). LSU also has middling league rankings in field-goal shooting (44.7%, 7th) and 3-point proficiency (32.0%, 8th). However, the Tigers have yet to allow more than 70 points in a game, holding 14 opponents to 63 points or less.
About Alabama: The Crimson Tide have dropped three in a row to Auburn, Missouri, and Mississippi State by a total of 10 points. Despite its sluggish SEC start, Alabama isn’t yet in jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament, because it boasts the nation’s third-toughest schedule and already possesses three wins over top-15 teams (Gonzaga, Houston, Tennessee). The Tide are also 24th in the prestigious NET rankings.
What’s At Stake: Neither LSU nor Alabama can afford another early SEC defeat and hope to remain in contention for the regular-season league title. That’s because four rivals ahead of them — Auburn, Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Mississippi State — are a combined 16-2 in league action.
Players To Watch
LSU forward Darius Days has been a double-double threat for three seasons. This year, the 6-foot-7 senior is averaging 14.0 points and 7.6 rebounds (as well as 1.6 steals) — highlighted by a 13-point, 18-rebound effort against Louisiana Tech on Dec. 18.
Alabama guard Jaden Shackelford currently ranks fifth among SEC players in scoring (16.2 ppg). The California native exploded for 28 points and nine rebounds in the Tide’s 91-82 upset win of now-No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 4.
Notable Trends
- LSU is 21-7-1 ATS in its last 28 overall
- Alabama is 1-7-1 ATS in its last nine overall, including 0-7 as a favorite and 0-5 at home
- Under is 16-5 in LSU’s last 21 games
- Over is 4-0 in Alabama’s last four outings
- The favorite is on a 20-6-1 ATS roll in this rivalry (7-1 ATS last eight)
- LSU and Alabama have averaged 162.5 combined points in their last five meetings. Four of those five games toppled tonight’s consensus total
No. 13 LSU vs Alabama Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Shortly before tipoff, Alabama is up to -4.5 at TwinSpires Sportsbook, after opening as 2.5-point chalk. LSU is actually taking 62% of spread tickets, but 64% of spread cash is on the Crimson Tide. “It’s Pros vs. Joes. Sharp play on Alabama,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said. The total rose from 145.5 to 148, with ticket count 2/1 and money 3/1 on the Over. “A mix of public and sharp money on the Over,” Lucas said.
No. 12 Kentucky Vs Texas A&M
Tipoff/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET/SEC Network
Kentucky: 14-3 SU (4-1 SEC)/9-8 ATS
Texas A&M: 15-2 SU (4-0 SEC)/8-8 ATS
Spread/Total: Kentucky -7/143.5
Last Meeting: Kentucky defeated A&M 69-60 as a 6-point road favorite (Feb. 25, 2020)
About Kentucky-Texas A&M: The Wildcats are 14-0 this season when scoring 72 or more points … but 0-3 when falling short of that threshold. Kentucky has the SEC’s highest-scoring offense (84 ppg), but A&M has the conference’s No. 2 scoring defense (allowing 62.9 ppg, 39th nationally). Texas A&M is riding an eight-game winning streak, but is just 3-4 ATS in lined contests during this stretch. The Aggies are 2-0 SU/ATS in SEC home games.
Notable Trends
- Kentucky is 6-2 ATS in its last eight overall (6-1 ATS as a favorite)
- Kentucky is 2-8-1 ATS in its last 11 road games
- Texas A&M is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 as an underdog (1-5 ATS as a home ‘dog)
- Under is 4-1-1 in Kentucky’s last six on the road
- Over is 7-3 in Texas A&M’s last 10 overall and 6-0 in its last six as an underdog
- In this rivalry, the favorite is on a 5-2 ATS run and the home team is on a 4-1 ATS roll
- Over is 7-2 in the last nine series clashes
No. 12 Kentucky vs Texas A&M Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Less than two hours before tipoff, Kentucky is a 7-point favorite at TwinSpires, after opening -7 and spending some time at -6.5. Texas A&M is nabbing 60% of spread tickets and 59% of spread dollars. “A&M is a trendy ‘dog. We’ll need Kentucky in this game,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said. The total dipped from 146 to 143.5, with 56% of tickets on the Over/61% of money on the Under.
