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March Madness Elite Eight: High-Scoring Alabama Vs. Duke Headlines Top Teams Shooting For 2025 Final Four

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March Madness Elite Eight: High-Scoring Alabama Vs. Duke Headlines Top Teams Shooting For 2025 Final Four


The 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is playing out to form with seven of the top-8 seeds advancing from the Sweet Sixteen to the Elite Eight this weekend. That includes all four No. 1 seeds with Auburn, Florida, Duke and Houston shooting to make the Final Four next weekend in San Antonio.

Elite Eight Matchups, Odds And TV Schedule

The Southeastern Conference sent a record 14 SEC teams to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and all four SEC teams in the Elite Eight have a chance to make the Final Four – No. 1 seeds Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators and No. 2 seeds Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers.

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While online betting is regulated in nearly 40 states with easy access also available for mobile betting, the three most populous states in the U.S. do not offer betting at U.S. Sportsbooks—California, Texas and Florida. These are also states where some of college basketball’s top teams play, like Florida, Houston and Texas Tech of the remaining Elite Eight teams. Also, regulated, legal sports betting is not available in Alabama, where the Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers entertain and engage fans but not for regulated sports betting.

Panama-based BetOnline has been a market leader for more than 30 years providing more betting options, contests and NCAA bracket pools for fans.

Updated Men’s College Basketball NCAA Tournament Bracket And Scores

BetOnline and leading online sportsbooks provide college basketball betting odds for the most watched and wagered college basketball games including the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four. Odds and futures refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Favorites (-) listed, all times Eastern.

Sat., March 29

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East – Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Duke (-7) | Total 174.5 | 8:49 p.m. | TBS/truTV

Pick: Alabama

West – Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Florida (-6.5) | Total 157 | 6:09 p.m. | TBS/truTV

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Sun., March 30

South – State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)

No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Auburn (-5) | Total 149 | 5:05 p.m. | CBS

Midwest – Lucas Oil Stadium, (Indianapolis, IN)

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Houston (-3.5) | Total 124 | 1:20 p.m. | CBS

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Pick: Tennessee

The four No. 1 seeds profiles are included below following their Sweet Sixteen wins. The favorites are rewarding bettors and especially moneyline bets as more moneyline parlays cashed in during Sweet 16 games. While no perfect brackets remain across the country in online March Madness pools, many are doing well with all four No. 1 seeds still alive into the Elite Eight along with three No. 2 seeds and one No. 3 seed.

Alabama’s 113 points in their Sweet 16 victory was the most points ever scored by a team in a NCAA Tournament game. The Crimson Tide also set records with 25 made 3-pointers and 51 three-point attempts.

  • Alabama 113, BYU 88
  • Duke 100, Arizona 93
  • Florida 87, Maryland 71
  • Texas Tech 85, Arkansas 83 OT
  • Michigan State 73, Ole Miss 70
  • Auburn 78, Michigan 65
  • Houston 62, Purdue 60
  • Tennessee 78, Kentucky 65

Betting favorites went 8-0 straight up in the Sweet Sixteen, and 4-4 against the spread (ATS) after Mississippi player hit a 3-point shot at the final buzzer to cover the closing spread (+3.5) in a 73-70 loss to Michigan State, who opened a -2.5 point favorite and took more money.

No. 1 Seeds To The Final Four And National Champions

Since the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, favorites are 44-12 SU and 30-26 ATS. The over/under game totals are 24-31-1 with Friday night Sweet 16 games going 4-0 to the under.

Since the men’s NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 62 No. 1 seeds make the Final Four. Of those, 39 made the championship game and 25 have become national champions, including 13 of the past 17 title winners.

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Only once in NCAA Tournament history have all four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four, and it happened in 2008.

Auburn Tigers

Most experts believed No. 1 overall seed Auburn had the “easiest” path to the national semifinals. KenPom ratings and research notes that a top-2 NCAA Tournament seed has never made a Final Four if they began the year outside the preseason AP Top 25 like Michigan State. Auburn held the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for eight consecutive weeks before Duke took over the top spot on March 10. The Tigers were 25-2 with 14 Quad 1 wins in late February, including a road win over No. 2 Alabama.

Auburn ranks No. 3 in adjusted offensive efficiency despite No. 29 in effective FG percentage shooting (55.2%). Auburn’s adjusted defensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage are both top-15, with elite 3-point defense (29.6%) and block percentage. Auburn made their first and only Final Four appearance in 2019, but the Tigers have never made it to a national championship game. Auburn’s Elite Eight opponent Michigan State is has made the Final Four ten times with their last appearance in 2019. The Spartans won the national championship in 2000 under current head coach Tom Izzo – the last Big Ten team to win the NCAA Tournament with Purdue playing in the national title game last year.

Florida Gators

Florida is 15-1 since a blowout loss at Tennessee Feb. 1. The Gators rolled through the SEC tournament as champions and were on a 6-0 ATS run until failing to cover their first two NCAA Tournament games but rebounding with a double-digit win over Maryland.

The Gators are the nation’s No. 2 efficiency offense with an elite offensive rebounding team. Florida is also a top defensive team, and up to No. 9 in adjusted efficiency and top-5 in effective field goal defense (45.4%) and 3-point defense (29.3%). The Gators made the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and are now 1-game from a Final Four, which they last made in 2014. The Gators won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Florida’s Elite Eight opponent Texas Tech made their only Final Four appearance in 2019 and lost to Virginia in overtime in the national championship game.

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Duke Blue Devils

Duke has won 14 in a row and 30 of its last 31 games, scoring 93, 89 and 100 points in three NCAA Tournament games to move back to No. 1 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency ratings. The Blue Devils sport a 58.2% effective field goal percentage to rank No. 3 in the country. Duke is also the only team to rank top-5 in offensive and defensive efficiency ratings with their 44.4% effective field goal defense No. 1 in the country. The Blue Devils program has made the Final Four 17 times most recently in 2022 with their last national championship victory in 2015. Duke’s Elite Eight opponent Alabama reached its first-ever Final Four last year losing to eventual national champion Connecticut.

Houston Cougars

Houston has the country’s best defense, trapping and forcing turnovers while allowing just 58.4 points per game in winning the Big 12 regular season and conference tournament title. Houston’s 38.4% field goal defense tops college basketball along with Tennessee (38.5%) and Duke (38.5%). The Cougars rank No. 1 in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency defense, and their offense is No. 12 with strong offensive rebounding and the No. 1 team in 3-point shooting (39.8%). Houston also plays at the slowest pace of the remaining tournament teams on offense while forcing the longest possession on defense. Houston has made 8-straight Sweet 16’s and six Final Four’s with their last in 2019. The Cougars have never won the national championship, but were runner-up in 1983 and 1984. Houston’s Elite Eight opponent Tennessee is shooting to make their first-ever Final Four, and making their second-straight Elite Eight appearance and third overall.

As noted previously in March Madness coverage, 21 of the last 22 National Champions have finished in the Top 20 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency ratings by KenPom’s advanced metrics. Five remaining teams fit the profile.

  • Duke (1 offense, 5 defense)
  • Florida (2,9)
  • Auburn (3,8)
  • Houston (12,1)
  • Tennessee (17,3)

KenPom offensive and defensive efficiency rankings for the remaining teams include Alabama (4,28), Michigan State (23,4) and Texas Tech (5,39).

Elite Eight Betting Trends And Notes

Courtesy of Playbook Sports newsletter and research.

  • No. 1 Seeds are 9-3 ATS the last 8 years.
  • No. 3 seeds are 4-16 ATS the last 17 years.
  • Underdogs off an ATS loss in the Sweet 16 are 1-4 ATS the last 11 years (Texas Tech, Michigan State).

Follow along for more March Madness betting coverage into the Elite Eight this weekend as the top teams shoot for the Final Four at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

You can bet on it.

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Alabama in the NFL: Former Heisman winner among best from Week 16

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Alabama in the NFL: Former Heisman winner among best from Week 16


Yet another week of NFL action has passed, and once again, it was a huge slate for Alabama Crimson Tide football.

A slate of games in which multiple teams clinched playoff berths, former Alabama players were back in action this past weekend at the professional level, with many going on to make significant impacts in their respective games. Some of those same names were also recently named to the 2026 Pro Bowl, only adding to what has been a solid overall season for the Crimson Tide in the NFL.

With the likes of Jalen Hurts, Malachi Moore, and Bryce Young among the names who also enjoyed a big week, here are five of Alabama’s top performing former players during Week 16 in the NFL.

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Derrick Henry, Running Back – Baltimore Ravens

The former Heisman Trophy winner was likely Alabama’s top offensive performance of Week 16, even despite losing a fumble in the Baltimore Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots. In all, Henry rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts, translating to an average of 7.1 yards per carry.

Jonathan Allen, Defensive Tackle – Minnesota Vikings

In a week loaded with impressive defensive performances, there were likely none greater than that of Allen during a 16-13 win for the Minnesota Vikings over the New York Giants. Allen finished the game with eight total tackles, four of which were solo, along with one sack, two TFL, and one quarterback hit.

Will Reichard, Kicker – Minnesota Vikings

Another member of the Minnesota Vikings who made an impact in their 16-13 win over the New York Giants was the former Alabama kicker. Also making his lone extra point attempt, Reichard finished 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, a trio of makes that came from 43, 31, and 30 yards.

Jordan Battle, Safety – Cincinnati Bengals

Battle enjoyed a huge performance during the Bengals’ 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins, leading Cincinnati with a total of 10 tackles. Of those 10 tackles, six from Battle were solo.

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Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback – Baltimore Ravens

Rounding out Alabama’s top performances from NFL Week 16 was Humphrey, who enjoyed a solid showing despite the Baltimore Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots. Humphrey finished with six total tackles, all of which were solo, two pass defenses, and an interception.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.





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McDaniel has 23, Memphis defeats Alabama State 88-67

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McDaniel has 23, Memphis defeats Alabama State 88-67


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Dug McDaniel scored 23 points as Memphis beat Alabama State 88-67 on Monday night.

McDaniel went 8 of 16 from the field (7 for 12 from 3-point range) for the Tigers (5-7). Curtis Givens III scored 18 points and added three steals. Ashton Hardaway shot 4 for 8 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points, while adding seven rebounds and five steals.

Asjon Anderson led the way for the Hornets (3-9) with 16 points. Damarien Yates added 13 points and nine rebounds for Alabama State. Tyler Mason also recorded 12 points. The loss is the sixth in a row for the Hornets.

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McDaniel scored 14 points in the first half to help Memphis build a 42-33 halftime lead. Memphis pulled away with a 12-2 run in the second half to extend a nine-point lead to 19 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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What Kalen DeBoer said about facing ‘great’ Indiana team with ‘swagger’ in Rose Bowl

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What Kalen DeBoer said about facing ‘great’ Indiana team with ‘swagger’ in Rose Bowl


Kalen DeBoer described Indiana as “a great football team.”

The Alabama coach was effusive in his praise of the Hoosiers and their leader.

“Coach Cignetti, just what he’s done is amazing here these last two years, just building the program as quickly as he’s done to the level it’s at,” DeBoer said. “Really looking forward to us diving back into our process here the next 10 days or so, just getting back to work.

No. 9 Alabama will face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1 (3 p.m. CT, ESPN). The winner of that matchup will advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, set to take part in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9.

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Simply put, the Crimson Tide will have its hands full. On offense, the Hoosiers led the nation in third-down conversions and rank third in scoring offense.

Indiana also owns the nation’s No. 10 rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game. Roman Hemby (918 yards, six touchdowns) and Kaelon Black (799 yards, seven touchdowns) are the top two running backs.

“Still diving into it, but I think the thing that jumps out at me, with the first glance here the last day or so, is how well they work together, the offensive line, in particular, and just everyone being in sync,” DeBoer said. “They’re always moving forward.”

Transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the leader of the offense as the Heisman Trophy winner. He has thrown for 33 touchdowns to six interceptions. Mendoza has also rushed for six scores this season.

“I just think with obviously Mendoza winning the Heisman, that doesn’t happen by accident,” DeBoer said. “You put a whole season of film together, of games and stringing them each and every week and you end up undefeated because a trigger man can make some plays and do his things at an extremely high level.”

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At receiver, Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt are Mendoza’s top two targets. Cooper has secured 58 passes for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sarratt has caught 51 passes for 687 yards and 12 scores.

“I look at their skill around the offensive line, they just all complement each other,” DeBoer said. “They go make plays. When the opportunities are there, they get it done.”

Defensively, the Hoosiers rank second in the nation in third downs and scoring defense. Indiana’s also third in tackles for loss.

“The defense, has the tackles for losses and is physical as well,” DeBoer said.

In total, it all has led to a 13-0 season so far after Indiana went 11-2 in 2024.

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“There’s great coaching you can see to put them in spots to succeed, but also the guys, you can see they play with a swagger, with a confidence,” DeBoer said, “and as they should with the success they’ve had.”



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