The Big 12 men’s basketball season is just a few weeks old, but we’ve already had some huge games on the non-conference slate, and Tuesday’s showdown between No. 6 Houston and No. 9 Alabama continues that narrative.
The matchup serves as a massive test for both teams clashing in the Impact Tournament of the Players Era Festival.
Despite losing to No. 2 Auburn earlier in the year, Kelvin Sampson continues to show the impressive nature of his basketball team. The Cougars have picked up where they left off last year with a relatively similar roster to that of their team that reached the Elite Eight in 2024-25.
Alabama is led by Nate Oats, a veteran coach who has revamped the Alabama basketball program in a big way since his hiring in 2019. His team has reached the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons, with three of those years at least making it to the Sweet 16.
Here’s how you can catch the game and how it is expected to play out.
How To Watch Houston vs. Alabama
The No. 6 Houston Cougars (3-1) will face the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) in a men’s college basketball showdown on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV Channel: TBS
Streaming: YouTube (Max Subscription)
City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena
Houston vs. Alabama Basketball Betting Info
Line: HOU (-3.5)
Over/Under: 151.5
Houston vs. Alabama: Prediction and Projections
Houston is led by a trio of impressive guards this fall, with returners Emanuel Sharp and L.J. Cryer, in addition to former Oklahoma guard Milos Uzan. The trio is scoring 31.6 points per game, which has helped the team fill the loss of First-Team All-American Jamal Shead.
ESPN’s Bracketology sees the Cougars as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today.
Alabama is led by two players in hot pursuit of the Wooden Award: senior guard Mark Sears and senior forward Grant Nelson. The former North Dakota State Bison leads the team with 14.2 points per game, while Sears controls the team as the lead guard.
The Crimson Tide would be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today.
Houston 68, Alabama 63
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Houston (71.9% Chance of Winning), Alabama (28.1% Chance of Winning)
Odds Shark Predicted Score: N/A
