UCLA vs Alabama – Best Player and Team Props to Bet

• The Alabama Crimson Tide are favorites as they take on the UCLA Bruins this weekend in March Madness Sweet Sixteen action
• The Crimson Tide ride an eight-game win streak, while UCLA looks to make it four in a row at this year’s NCAA Tournament
• We’ve got you covered with all the game and player props ahead of Sunday night’s East Region matchup at Hinkle Fieldhouse

Two teams aiming to return to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament following lengthy absences clash on Sunday (March 28), as the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the resurgent UCLA Bruins as 6.5-point favorites.

Pegged as the #2 seed in the East Region, the Crimson Tide make their first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in 17 years riding an eight-game win streak after opening the tournament with a pair of lopsided victories.

Forced to compete in First Four action after closing out a promising campaign with four straight defeats, the Bruins have quickly turned things around with three tournament victories, including SU wins as betting underdogs over Michigan State and BYU.

Here’s a look at the best bets among the player and game props leading up to this East Region matchup, set for Sunday night at 7:15 pm ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

First, see the odds below from FanDuel.

UCLA vs Alabama Player Props

Odds as of March 27, 2021.

Alabama Lighting It Up from Downtown

The Alabama Crimson Tide were the highest-scoring team from beyond the arc during the regular season, and showed why in their 96-77 rout of No. 10 Maryland in the Second Round. The Tide went 16-for-33 on three-point attempts in the win as 6-point chalk, with the team’s top three-point shooter John Petty Jr. going 4-for-9.

Alabama leads Maryland 46-38 at halftime

The Crimson Tide have hit eight three-pointers already, they made five total against Iona in the first round #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UpHhbyzaay

— Robby Baker (@RobbyBakerTV) March 23, 2021

The senior guard has hit at least three threes in four of his past seven contests, and has emerged as an intriguing +116 bet to do it again in Sunday’s contest.

However, UCLA has been effective at defending against the three during their recent turnaround, with opponents going a meagre 13-for-54 overall in the Bruins’ three tournament victories to date.

The Pick: John Petty Jr. UNDER 2.5 three-pointers (-148)

UCLA vs Alabama Game Props

Fast Starts Not a Problem for UCLA

Victory eluded the Bruins down the stretch during the regular season, but they remained steady first-half performers during their 0-4 slide, taking the lead into the room at halftime in each of those contests. The team has extended that fast-start trend into the NCAA Tournament by outpacing BYU and Abilene Christian by double-digit margins in last weekend’s matchups.

The Bruins are on a 16-0 run midway through the first half 🔥🔥🔥

UCLA 24, Abilene Christian 12
7:25 – 1st Half

📺: TBS
💻: https://t.co/GM1iC2YVNX #GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ZDkNfCHkNe

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 22, 2021

The Tide have also regularly enjoyed strong starts, but have tended to surrender big point totals before recess in recent outings, surrendering an average of 35 first-half points in last weekend’s wins over Iona and Maryland. Now facing a lethal Bruins offense that looks to be peaking at the right time, Alabama is likely to have their hands full covering in the first half as 3.5-point chalk.

Currently ranked 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency at Kenpom, the Bruins are motivated to gain an early advantage over Alabama in Sunday’s contest, particularly in light of some of their recent scoring troubles in second-half play. Averaging 35.1 first-half points per game over their past seven, and enjoying lots of success shooting threes, the Bruins are also a solid -110 bet to score OVER 32.5 points before the half.

The Picks: Bruins OVER 32.5 first half (-110); Bruins +3.5 first half (-110)