We can finally catch our breath in the wake of an intense second round of college basketball games. Among the tournament’s survivors are a pair of top-five seeds that meet in the Sweet 16, featuring No. 5 team San Diego State and No. 1 team Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama made its way to the third round of the competition with a comfortable 22-point victory over Maryland. The same goes for San Diego State here. They continue the hunt for glory following a 23-point win versus Furman in the second round. Ultimately, this is a clash of the titans and one that bettors and basketball fans shouldn’t miss.

The Nitrobetting team is prepared to dish out key assists and passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 March Madness tournament. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming Sweet 16 matchup between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Alabama Crimson Tide, along with the latest game odds for this huge 2023 March Madness showdown.

San Diego State vs. Alabama 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Game Information

Victory Sunday pic.twitter.com/v8fyttILq0

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 19, 2023

• When: Friday, March 24, 2023, 6:30 PM ET
• Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
• TV: TBS
• Radio: Sports Diego 760 (San Diego State) // KQSM 92.1 FM The Ticket (Alabama)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: San Diego State (+7.5) // Alabama (-7.5)

READ MORE: Gonzaga vs. UCLA 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Odds and Preview

Why Bet on the San Diego State Aztecs?

This is the last team Alabama wants to share the floor with. San Diego has exceptional defense and a reliable senior guard in Matt Bradley. The 23-year-old is a big component of the team’s success this season. He headlines the Aztecs in scoring, averaging 13 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 26.7 minutes. Bradley appeared in all 36 games, and hits 41.1% of his shots from the field, including an impressive 36.6% three-point shooting. He started the tournament on a positive note and a 17-point performance against Charleston, where he grabbed seven boards and four assists.

Defense is the name of Brian Dutcher’s game. They are incredible at forcing opposing offenses to run the shot clock. In contrast, the team attempts a high volume of its shots in the early seconds of possession. SDSU can likely make this a low-possession contest, but it’s questionable whether the strategy can put Crimson on hold.

If the Aztecs maintain defensive efficiency as the stats tell us, we might just encounter our first upset of the Sweet 16. But, for this to happen, we need to see a different San Diego roster that can work competently on both ends of the floor.

Why Bet on the Alabama Crimson Tide?

Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller has been exceptional for his team in recent weeks. He logged double figures in 26 of his last 27 appearances, including a 19-point game in Saturday’s second-round win over Maryland. In the SEC Tournament Championship clash triumph over Texas A&M, Miller also took charge and scored 23 points on top of 12 rebounds. It was his second-straight double-double and third in four contests to bring his figures up to nine double-doubles this year. With that, Miller averages nearly 20 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, and two assists in 32.7 minutes of action.

Speed is one of Alabama’s strongest suits. They are one of the fastest teams in the competition, let alone the country, ranking fifth nationally with close to 73 possessions per game. It’s a different story for San Diego State. Their opponents rank way below 200 with fewer than 66 possessions per game. If the Crimson Tides can control the tempo and work their elite defense properly, their elite scorers can easily pressure the Aztecs here.

It’s going to be a tight contest. The Crimson Tide still holds the edge with better two-way figures. They scored 123 points per 1000 possessions versus teams like Texas A&M with Miller mostly on the sidelines. Depth and consistency are two factors that could Alabama ahead of their opponents on Friday night.

San Diego State vs. Alabama Betting Trends

• San Diego State is 5-0 in its last five contests.
• San Diego State is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
• The totals went under in five of San Diego State’s last five games.
• Alabama is 5-0 in its last five contests.
• Alabama is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
• The totals went under in four of Alabama’s last five games.

San Diego State vs. Alabama Expert Prediction

Facts and better statistics mean Alabama steps inside the court as favorites to win. The contrast in styles still makes this one a must-watch. It’s a classic case of offense versus defense, and many eagerly anticipate a fun and interesting narrative to this matchup.

San Diego State still has a solid shot at covering the spread. But, if they want to make another run to the Elite Eight and snap the Final Four appearance of a Mountain West member over three decades ago, a win demands 110% from the lineup. We’ve seen upsets in the tournament, and anything can happen at the end of the day.

Where to Bet on the 2023 March Madness tournament with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the College Basketball season with crypto. The power of bitcoin and its lightning-fast transactions make your March Madness betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023 March Madness previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball betting odds on our online bitcoin sportsbook.