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Charleston vs. Alabama Prediction & March Madness Odds: Smith Shoots Cougars Past Crimson Tide

Philip Wood

Last Updated: March 22, 2024 4:15 PM EDT • 3 min 7 sec read.

The high-scoring Charleston Cougars and Alabama Crimson Tide meet in an interesting opening-round NCAA Tournament clash as we make our Alabama vs. Charleston prediction based on the top March Madness odds. 

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide boast the highest-scoring offense in the nation, averaging an impressive 90.8 points per game. However, their fast-paced style contributes to a defensive weakness, with the team ranking 348th in points allowed per game, conceding an average of 81.1 points per contest.

The Charleston Cougars play a very similar style. They average 80.0 points per game and have consistently relied on their offensive prowess to win games. Will they be able to shoot their way to an upset victory?

As part of our March Madness predictions, here are our best Alabama vs. Charleston prediction and college basketball picks (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Charleston vs. Alabama odds

Charleston (No. 13) vs. Alabama (No. 4) prediction: West Region 

Reyne Smith Over 3.5 3-pointers made  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds:

Take the underdog’s leading scorer, Reyne Smith, to have a big game from beyond the arc, especially in a game that should be full of scoring. Smith has had some incredible games this season, including a 10-of-15 performance from deep against the Campbell Camels.

This season, almost all of Smith’s production has come from beyond the 3-point line. He has had some off games, but he’s also attempted at least 10 3-pointers in 14 contests.

This season, the Crimson Tide rank 189th in 3-pointers allowed per game. As this game starts to eclipse the 80s or 90s for both teams, Smith should continue firing from deep to try and keep his team in it. Even if he shoots below his season average of 39.4%, he will attempt enough deep balls to hit the Over against a team that doesn’t prioritize defense.

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Charleston vs. Alabama best odds

FanDuel (+130)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
Over 3.5 Over 3.5 Over 3.5 N/AOver 3.5 
+110+110 N/A+115

The price for this prop is outstanding across the board. No matter where you bet, a $10 wager would return a profit of more than $10. Right now, is offering the best price, suggesting Smith has just a 43.48% chance to hit four three-pointers in this contest.

That is significantly lower than DraftKings’ 46.73% implied probability. Since we think he has a 50% chance of hitting this prop, the value provided is worth taking advantage of as soon as possible. A winning $10 wager at FanDueul (+130) would pay out $23.

Charleston vs. Alabama spread & Over/Under analysis

The spread for this game is all over the place. The Crimson Tide opened as 11.5-point favorites, and despite seeing 71% of wagers, the spread has dropped at our best sports betting apps. Now, the Crimson Tide are favored by 9 or 9.5 points at our best sports betting sites. That number could keep dropping as the Cougars become an increasingly popular upset pick.

The total for this game opened at 172.5. Despite being the highest total of March Madness thus far, bettors are still backing the Over. The number has increased to 173.5 at every major sportsbook. With how these two teams shoot, expect it to continue to rise.

Charleston vs. Alabama game info

  • When: Friday, March 22
  • Tip-off: 7:35 p.m. ET
  • Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Wash.
  • How to watch: truTV

Alabama vs. Charleston prediction made Tuesday at 9:50 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil has covered sports betting since 2016, and he has been with SportsBook Review since 2022. He previously hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast for CanesInsight.com. He is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is that if a line doesn't make sense just assume oddsmakers know something you don't. He also loves in-season futures. There is so much value to be had as the public overreacts weekly. Bettors tend to forget just how long NFL and college football seasons are. After all, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5 in 2023 and they made it to the Divisional Round. When deciding where to bet, it comes down to value over everything. +100 is always better than -110. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. He is also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and is willing to forgive Dan Campbell for forgetting that a kicker can be useful.