NCAA Men’s Basketball: (11) Wichita State Shockers at Alabama Crimson Tide

Wichita State at Alabama
Time: 9 PM ET, Dec 17, 2013
TV: ESPN U
Spread: WICH -2.5
Total: 127

Odds Courtesy of Bovada

The No. 11 ranked Wichita State Shockers have begun the season 10-0 and have won 9 of the 10 games by nine points or more. Tonight, that is expected to be a bit different as the squad faces off against a tough SEC team in Alabama. College basketball oddsmakers at Bovada favor the Shockers still by 2.5 points on the road.

The Shockers have four players averaging double figures, led by Ron Baker’s 14.6 points per game. Cleanthony Early drew a lot of attention in the NCAA tournament last season and he’s been very good for Wichita thus far too, with 14.2 points and 6 rebounds per game in 27 minutes a night.

Wichita is a bit short on depth and its starters log big minutes, which could be a problem against a lot of the better teams which sport solid nine and ten man rotations. But the Shockers have been very good in March and that’s what has propelled the program to the pinnacle its now reached.

Alabama is just 5-4 on the season, but the schedule has been reasonably tough. The Crimson Tide have taken advantage of the gifts in the schedule but have yet to beat a quality opponent. The Crimson Tide aren’t passing the ball very well, either, ranking near the bottom of all D-1 schools in assists per game (11.3).

Trevor Releford is averaging 16.4 points per game and Retin Obasohan posts 15.2 per night as well for Alabama. Releford is a deadeye shooter and he’s hitting 48. percent from the floor, 96 percent from the line, and 38.6 percent from behind the arc.

Wichita Trends: UNDER 7-1 in last 8 Tuesday games; 16-5-2 ATS in last 23 overall; 23-8 in last 31 road games.