Saturday’s second Elite Eight game is a battle of blue blood vs. rising tide, as Duke brings its storied legacy and a ton of talent to take on Alabama’s high-octane attack in a heavyweight showdown dripping with Final Four stakes.
How to watch No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Alabama
- What: East Regional, Elite Eight
- Venue: Prudential Center — Newark, N.J.
- Time: 8:49 p.m. ET, Saturday
- TV: TBS, truTV
- Streaming: March Madness Live
- Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.
I filled out 37 brackets this year, and this was the game I was stuck on. Alabama has the offense, star power, length and experience to beat Duke, but that’s easier said than done.
Duke is efficient on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the Blue Devils rank in the top 10 in 2-point and 3-point percentage, so they should be able to score with Alabama despite playing at a slower pace.
Alabama is the third-oldest team in the field, and that experience could be an advantage in key moments. Duke starts three freshmen; they are all very good but have never played in a game of this importance. They have been flawless all season, but we’ve seen that March Madness can sometimes be too much for freshmen.
Who guards Cooper Flagg and how? Pay attention to what Alabama does defensively when Flagg has the ball in pick-and-roll situations.
The Blue Devils were out-rebounded in two of their three losses. The key to taking down Duke is owning the glass, and Alabama has the size, depth and athleticism to do so.
Both teams can score at will, and this could be a high-scoring affair despite the elite defenses. Oddsmakers set the total over 170. The first to 80 wins this one.
Duke vs. Alabama odds
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(Photo of Mark Sears: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)