{"id":131730,"date":"2026-03-22T19:24:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T22:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/901135618"},"modified":"2026-03-22T19:24:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T22:24:52","slug":"texas-tech-vs-alabama-prediction-march-madness-2026-picks-odds-bets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/22\/texas-tech-vs-alabama-prediction-march-madness-2026-picks-odds-bets\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Tech vs. Alabama prediction: March Madness 2026 picks, odds, bets"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"commerce-disclosure\"> <i>Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting-editorial-standards\/\">editorial standards<\/a> for more information.<\/i> <\/aside>\n<p>Texas Tech and Alabama meet in what feels like one of the best <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting\/march-madness-odds\/\">Round of 32<\/a> matchups on the board this weekend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The pair of talented power conference clubs collide after spending the season navigating brutal schedules.<\/p>\n<p>Alabama comes in out of the SEC, and played the most difficult schedule in the country, according to KenPom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Big 12\u2019s Texas Tech wasn\u2019t far behind with the highest strength of schedule rating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, two of these teams\u2019 biggest stars, Texas Tech\u2019s All-American JT Toppin, who suffered a torn ACL, and Alabama\u2019s Aden Holloway, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/21\/sports\/new-details-emerge-in-alabama-star-aden-holloways-drug-arrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suspended after being arrested on drug charges<\/a>, will both miss the game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--more inline-module--trending inline-module--more--thirds\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-module__heading subsection-heading subsection-heading--underline subsection-heading--underline--indent-30 \"> Explore More <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t mean this contest will lack star power.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Crimson Tide\u2019s Labaron Philon Jr. is playing some of his best basketball of the season, and proved on Friday that he can still fill it up without Holloway on the court beside him, dropping 29 points in the Round of 64 win over Hofstra.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"38854993\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" loading=\"lazy\" data-modal-image=\"38854993\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/AP_Texas_Tech_Arizona_St_Basketball_95717-c43b0-0.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1\" alt=\"Texas Tech forward JT Toppin drives against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Rick Scuteri)\" class=\"wp-image-38854993\"><figcaption>Texas Tech forward JT Toppin drives against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. <span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Philon has been red-hot shooting the ball of late, making more than 50 percent or more of his shots in seven of his last eight games while averaging 23.6 points per game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s been especially good from 3-point land, making 22-of-49 (44.9 percent) attempts from deep.<\/p>\n<p>Alabama had the best offense in the country this season, and Philon is the engine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Betting on College Basketball? <\/h2>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<p>With lineups full of studs on both sides, I\u2019m betting on the cream to rise to the top with a big game from Philon.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The play:<\/strong> Labaron Philon Jr. to score more than 24.5 points (-110, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting\/draftkings-promo-code\/\">DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Trust New York Post Betting<\/h2>\n<p>Dylan Svoboda is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=29773&awinaffid=690303\">versatile<\/a> writer and analyst across many sports. He\u2019s particularly knowledgeable about the big three \u2014 MLB, the NFL and the NBA.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; standards for more information. Texas <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> and Alabama meet in what &#8230; .\u00c2\u00a0 The Big 12\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Texas <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> wasn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t far behind with &#8230; these teams\u00e2\u0080\u0099 biggest stars, Texas <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span>\u00e2\u0080\u0099s All-American JT Toppin &#8230; 64 win over Hofstra.\u00c2\u00a0 Texas <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> forward JT Toppin drives against &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131730"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131730\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}