Alabama vs. UCLA odds, prediction: Tide the pick

The Pac-12 has had a glorious run as a conference in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, with four teams making the Sweet 16 and a 9-1 overall record, but Alabama will look to help the SEC’s cause on Sunday against UCLA.

UCLA’s weak point is its perimeter defense, as the Bruins rank 199th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage defense and now must contain an Alabama offense centered around converting outside shots.

In games on a road or neutral court, Alabama is getting 45.7 percent of its shots from 3-pointers, the 24th-highest mark in the country. Across the board, the Crimson Tide have quality shooters, with five of the team’s top six scorers making at least 37 percent of their 3-point attempts. Guard Jahvon Quinerly is their top long-range marksman, hitting 44.2 percent.

Alabama pairs this with a defense that goes under-appreciated due to the team’s ability to score in bunches. The Crimson Tide defense ranks 17th in points allowed on a per-possession basis.

With the combination being able to convert loads of 3-pointers and ranking eighth in the country in 3-point shooting percentage defense, the Crimson Tide will roll to the Elite Eight.

The play: Alabama, -6.5