The calendar has turned to January, and the surprising Oklahoma Sooners remain one of the three remaining unbeaten teams in college basketball. Now No. 12 Oklahoma prepares to face what was its undoing last season—conference play, this time in the SEC, beginning Saturday evening as a 10.5-point underdog at fifth-ranked Alabama.
The 13-0 Sooners have covered in four of the five games they’ve played thus far featuring single-digit spreads, including outright victories as an underdog against Louisville, Arizona and Michigan. The 11-2 Crimson Tide has covered in three of seven games against major-conference competition, and to this point is a break-even 3-3 ATS as a home favorite.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Odds
Matchup Page: Oklahoma vs Alabama, Jan. 4, 6:00 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Sooners | +10.5 (-110) | +450 | O163.5 (-115) |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | -10.5 (-110) | -630 | U163.5 (-105) |
Odds as of Jan. 4 at bet365
Oklahoma vs Alabama Picks Today
Why such a large point spread between two highly ranked teams? The metrics spell it out. The Crimson Tide are 10th at the analytical site KenPom.com, thanks largely to a schedule ranked 11th nationally. Alabama has played seven potential NCAA tournament teams to this point, and is 5-2 in those contests outright. Star guard Mark Sears has shot 50 percent or better from the field in three of his last five, and had gone for 20 or more four times over that span.
Oklahoma despite its unbeaten record is 41st at KenPom.com, saddled by a schedule strength ranked 345th out of 364 Division I teams. It’s s similar story in the NCAA’s NET rankings, where the Tide is 10th and OU 42nd. The Sooners have feasted on Quad 4 opponents, with seven of their 13 victories thus far coming in games with point spreads of 25 or greater. Then there’s the specter of last season, when the Sooners started 13-1 but cratered in conference play—then the Big 12—to miss the NCAA tournament.
Coach Porter Moser has rebuilt his squad since then, largely around transfers, and the result has been a deep team with three double-digit scorers and eight guys who play quality minutes. But the fact that we’re in January and the Sooners have yet to play a true road game seems a glaring oversight (Alabama has played three). At its best, Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa can be a buzzsaw of an arena, elevated by a home team that’s very capable of getting back to the Final Four.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Pick: Alabama -10.5 (-110)
Oklahoma has played six games against major-conference opposition thus far and gone OVER in three of them, including in their best wins against Arizona and Michigan. Likewise, Alabama has gone OVER in four of its seven games against major-conference foes. While both teams can be inconsistent from beyond the 3-point arc, we’ll stick with those trends and back the OVER on Saturday.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Pick: OVER 163.5 (-115)
Oklahoma vs Alabama News
For Alabama, guard Houston Mallette is expected to return after an illness kept him out of the Tide’s most recent game at South Dakota State, according to the Tuscaloosa News. The newspaper also reported that five-star freshman forward Derrion Reid's status in uncertain after he was recently seen in a walking boot. Oklahoma’s Jadon Jones (back) and Jeff Nwankwo (Achilles tendon) are both out after suffering early-season injuries.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Prop Bet: Alabama OVER 88.5 (-105)
The Crimson Tide is averaging 88 points per game against major-conference competition, a span that’s seen them put up 100 on Illinois, 94 on North Carolina and 85 against Houston. We’ll take the OVER on this team total, at home against an Oklahoma squad very used to playing games in the 80s.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Betting Trends
- Oklahoma is 2-0 ATS against ranked opponents
- Oklahoma is 3-0 ATS as an underdog
- Alabama is 1-1 ATS against ranked opponents
