San Diego State vs. UAB: 2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament game: San Diego State vs. UAB. And make sure to check out our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Optimizer to take down your pools!
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2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: San Diego State vs. UAB
San Diego State NCAA Tournament Preview
After making it all the way to last year’s National Championship Game and falling to UConn, the Aztecs have hopes of making a similarly successful tournament run this year. Jaedon LeDee has been one of the most improved players in the nation, and he can get to the hoop and draw fouls seemingly at will. SDSU’s defense is suffocating, ranking in the top 10 in efficiency metrics while sending opponents deep into the shot clock. Allowing nothing from deep, few offensive boards and forcing ample turnovers, the Aztecs usually win the battle of shot volume – a big reason why they made a deep run last year.
Among the things that make SDSU dangerous are a top-10 nonconference strength of schedule and how they played in neutral-court games, going 4-1, including 3-0 out of conference, highlighted by a drubbing of Saint Mary’s. The Aztecs’ defense performs well against high-level competition, and they have played consistent ball in a difficult Mountain West, ranking second in the Haslametrics consistency metric. While their defense is elite, the Aztecs’ offense ranks outside the top 50 on KenPom. Shooting under 32 percent from beyond the arc and depending heavily on reaching the charity stripe, the Aztecs might be hard-pressed to make another deep run. Still, they did it last year with an arguably better defense but also an arguably lesser offense.
San Diego State is a part of a muddled tier of teams that could lose in the first round or make it to the Final Four. The Aztecs will be semi-matchup-dependent, but Brian Dutcher has shown how he can clear the hurdles of coaching in the tournament. This team would seem to have a high floor, but anything can happen.
UAB 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview
After upsetting South Florida and taking down Temple in the conference tournament final, the Blazers of UAB find themselves in another NCAA tournament. If this team hopes to upset in the tournament, it will be from their offense. With an offensive rebounding percentage ranked in the top-25, they convert second-chance points at a high clip. Facing a team with less depth can benefit Andy Kennedy’s squad with a top-25 free throw rate with over 23 percent of their points coming from the charity stripe. Combine the high shot volume with some lucky shooting, and a UAB team with some momentum could shock.
Their defense will limit any potential ceiling for UAB making a run in the tournament. Ranking outside the top-200 in defensive efficiency, UAB doesn’t force turnovers, doesn’t defend the perimeter well, and doesn’t excel on the defensive boards. Luck will need to be on UAB’s side for them to make a run, but Christian Coleman, Javian Davias and Alejandro Vasquez are capable scorers. Wins over Maryland, Memphis, Florida Atlantic, and Drake highlight a potential ceiling, but it would have to be against a team with a lacking offense.
2024 NCAA Tournament Predictions: San Diego State vs. UAB
San Diego State returns to the dance after falling just short of the ultimate prize. Like last year, this team is led by a strong defense. They’ll get a pesky UAB team that won the American Conference Tournament, beating league champ South Florida along the way.
The Blazers are an interesting matchup for the Aztecs. San Diego State plays a style of defense that will allow you to shoot threes, but will contest them well, resulting in an opponent 3P% of 30.5%, which is top 20 in the country. UAB, however, doesn’t take a lot of threes and already isn’t too adept at making them. They do get to the free throw line, which is one place you can get points on San Diego State, who foul well above the national average.
This will be a slow-paced, foul-heavy game and probably one of the least watchable in the first round, but the Aztecs’ defense plays into what UAB wants to do on offense. Both teams should have some success scoring, and I like this game to go well over the current total.
2024 NCAA Tournament Picks: San Diego State vs. UAB
Bet: Over 134.5 (-110 via DraftKings Sportsbook)
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2024 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament
EAST REGION
- UCONN v Stetson (1v16)
- Iowa St. v South Dakota St. (2v15)
- Illinois v Morehead St. (3v14)
- Auburn v Yale (4v13)
- San Diego St. v UAB (5v12)
- BYU v Duquesne (6v11)
- Washington St. v Drake (7v10)
- Florida Atlantic v Northwestern (8v9)
MIDWEST REGION
- Montana St/Grambling St PLAY IN
- Virginia/Colorado St. PLAY IN
- Tennessee vs. Saint Peter’s (2v15)
- Creighton vs. Akron (3v14)
- Kansas vs. Samford (4v13)
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese (5v12)
- South Carolina vs. Oregon (6v11)
- Utah St. vs. TCU (8v9)
SOUTH REGION
- Boise St./Colorado PLAY IN
- Houston vs. Longwood (1v16)
- Marquette vs. Western Kentucky (2v15)
- Kentucky vs. Oakland (3v14)
- Duke vs. Vermont (4v13)
- Wisconsin vs. James Madison (5v12)
- Texas Tech vs. NC State (6v11)
- Nebraska vs. Texas A&M (8v9)
WEST REGION
- Howard/Wagner PLAY IN
- Arizona vs. Long Beach St. (2v15)
- Baylor vs. Colgate (3v14)
- Alabama vs. Charleston (4v13)
- Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon (5v12)
- Clemson vs. New Mexico (6v11)
- Dayton vs. Nevada (7v10)
- Mississippi St. vs. Michigan St. (8v9)
2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Pool Strategy & Picks
Below we provide strategy, advice, and picks to create the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket. And be sure to use our FREE bracket optimizer to build a winning men’s NCAA tournament bracket and take down your contest!