Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Alabama Crimson Tide Prediction: NCAA Tournament Second Round
Updated 09 Jul, 2026
The second round of the NCAA Tournament concludes with a Sunday night matchup between Texas Tech and Alabama, with both teams coming off convincing first-round wins and looking to build on that form. Alabama enters as one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, while Texas Tech has shown it can overcome adversity, including the absence of a key star. With both teams missing key players, you will find my Texas Tech vs Alabama prediction below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE0qHvyehtg
Alabama enters this game as a slight underdog, with the spread hovering around 1.5 points. They showed their firepower in a 90-70 win over Hofstra, pulling away in the second half with efficient shooting and strong rebounding. But they are without key player Aden Holloway, who is under investigation for alleged drug trafficking, which could impact them more in this game.
Texas Tech also impressed in its opener, defeating Akron 91-71 while shooting over 64% from the field. The Red Raiders did this without star forward JT Toppin, and his absence continues to shape their rotation. Despite that, multiple players stepped up, giving the team a balanced scoring attack.
The contrast is clear. Alabama prefers a high-tempo, high-scoring approach, while Texas Tech leans on efficiency and depth. The outcome may hinge on whether Texas Tech can slow Alabama’s pace or if the Tide dictates the rhythm.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Stat | Texas Tech | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 80.7 | 91.7 |
Points allowed per game | 72.6 | 83.1 |
Team Field Goal % | 47% | 46% |
Rebounds Per Game | 36.8 | 40.8 |
Assists Per Game | 15.9 | 16.1 |
ATS records for this season
Over/under records for this season
Alabama’s ability to score at an elite level gives it a slight edge in this contest, especially against a Texas Tech team still adjusting without its top forward. The Tide’s rebounding advantage and depth were evident in the first round, and those factors should carry over. I'll take Alabama to win this game outright as a slight underdog in what could be the game of the day in college basketball.
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