Gonzaga Bulldogs @ Alabama NCAA Basketball 11/24/2025
Las Vegas gets a marquee college hoops showcase Monday night when No. 11 Gonzaga meets No. 11 Alabama at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Players Era Festival. Tip is set for 9:30 PM ET on TNT and HBO Max, and yes, both teams lace them up again on Monday. From a betting lens, this one checks all the boxes: top-tier offenses, contrasting styles, high-profile guards versus a bruising, skilled frontcourt, and a line that’s been hovering Gonzaga -3.5 with a sky-high total around 173.5. Alabama just put away a top-10 opponent and is riding the momentum of a three-win start against a nasty schedule. Gonzaga, meanwhile, hasn’t taken an L yet and looks more balanced than last year, with improved rim protection and a frontcourt that commands attention even before warmups.
Two things to know at the window: Alabama, under head coach Nate Oats, wants to play at pace, space you out, and launch threes in volume; Gonzaga is comfortable dialing it down a notch and grinding in the half-court through a two-headed post attack. That clash of tempos often decides tickets. The Crimson Tide enters with confidence after a surge-heavy win over Illinois and a competitive effort against No. 1 Purdue, while Gonzaga has handled its early slate with straightforward professionalism. The betting question becomes whether Alabama’s guards can bend Gonzaga’s help and whether the Zags’ frontcourt can tilt the possession game on the glass without letting the tempo spiral.
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Our betting predictions for Gonzaga Bulldogs @ Alabama
Tip 1: Game Totals – Take Under 173.5
Our primary betting tip leans on the Totals: Under 173.5 at -110 with Caesars Sportsbook. Why it’s first: 173.5 is a massive number even for elite offenses, and this matchup presents a quiet undertow toward an Under. Alabama wants the pedal down, but Gonzaga’s interior-oriented offense and strong defensive rebounding can slow the number of clean possessions. Over Alabama’s last three reported games, the Tide’s offense has averaged roughly 91 per game while allowing just under 90—high-energy numbers, yes, but still shy of this total when you factor in a neutral floor, travel, and a next-day game in tournament format. Gonzaga’s interior doubles, Alabama’s pick-and-roll density, and a few longer possessions when the ball goes inside can trim just enough pace to keep this from the fireworks the sticker price implies. Estimated hit rate: about 54% for the Under at current pricing.
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Betting Tip 2: Alabama +3.5 Spread
Our second betting tip leans on the Spread: Alabama +3.5 at -110 with bet365 Sportsbook. Gonzaga’s favored for good reason—experience, structure, and a frontcourt that draws fouls and warps help. But Alabama’s perimeter wave is real. Oats has Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. to mix and match; that volume of live-dribble shooters can stress the Zags’ rotations, especially if the Tide’s bench again provides double-digit support. The pace tug-of-war also matters: if Alabama dictates tempo for stretches, it raises variance and makes the dog more attractive against the number.
Betting Tip 3: Moneyline – Alabama
Our final betting tip – Moneyline: Alabama +140 (bet365). Market favorite? Gonzaga at best odds with bet365. But for pure value, the Tide are worth a small stab on the moneyline. At +140, there’s a modest edge for the home-listed side in a neutral-site environment that should still buzz for the SEC brand. The matchup equation: Alabama’s guard depth and bench pop versus Gonzaga’s interior craft. If the Tide hits a reasonable clip from deep and keeps turnovers manageable, they have a very live chance to steal it late. Betting tip: Alabama +140 (Bet365), with a smaller stake than the spread.
Team Statistics and Current Form
Alabama Crimson Tide (early-season form trending up) The Tide are 3-1 across their last four with back-to-back high-profile showings, including an energizing win over a top-10 Illinois team and a narrow loss to No. 1 Purdue that validated their ceiling. Over the last three reported games, Alabama’s averaged about 91 points per game while allowing just under 90. That’s the identity under Nate Oats: pace, threes, and a relentless guard rotation that hunts advantages early in the clock. Alabama’s perimeter volume is among the highest nationally, with roughly mid-30s attempts from beyond the arc per night, and their bench is contributing meaningfully—32 bench points in the Illinois game signaled depth that should matter in a festival format. From a standings and perception standpoint, a No. 11 ranking and 3-1 start against a gauntlet schedule sets the tone: this is a legit top-tier group, capable of scaling to a second-weekend profile come March.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (perfect start with frontcourt teeth). Gonzaga is 5-0 and carrying that unmistakable, polished Zags rhythm. Their per-game scoring across this start sits comfortably north of the 80s, while the defense has looked sharper—particularly on the glass. Opponents have been limited to a low-20s offensive rebounding rate, one of the best figures in the country early on, which fits how Mark Few teams so often win the margins. While Gonzaga is more than capable of running, this roster is most dangerous when it can establish the post—touches to Graham Ike and Braden Huff, then kick-outs or counters as help comes. That interior gravity can slow the game just enough to keep the Zags in control of tempo, which is a major subplot against Alabama. And with a No. 13 ranking and early confidence, Gonzaga lands in Vegas with national-title buzz swirling.
Keyplayer Statistics/Momentum/External Factors
- Labaron Philon has surged for Alabama, stacking 20-plus outings and igniting second-half runs; Aden Holloway adds shot-making pop.
- Depth-wise, Houston Mallette and Keitenn Bristow have supplied timely scoring, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is working back toward full speed.
- Health notes: Davion Hannah’s minutes have been light while managing a tailbone issue; Chris Youngblood is ramping with a minutes cap when active.
- For Gonzaga, the interior duo of Graham Ike and Braden Huff is the chessboard problem—both can score on the block and command doubles.
- Nate Oats even likened their inside tandem to a classic twin-tower dynamic: if you send help, it opens pre-rotations and swing-swing threes.
- External: neutral-floor spotlight in Las Vegas, televised on TNT/HBO Max, and both teams on a quick turnaround for Monday—factors that can shave pace in certain stretches and emphasize bench quality.
Last direct match
No recent head-to-head results are available in the current dataset.
Performance last 5 Matches
- Alabama Crimson Tide: 3 wins, 2 losses.
- Gonzaga Bulldogs: 5 wins, 0 losses.
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TrustnBet Final Thoughts
We’re leaning into the matchup dynamics and the number. First, the Under 173.5 at -110 gets our top billing because the market total bakes in maximum pace and shot-making. Gonzaga’s interior usage and defensive glass should trim a few possessions, and a festival setting with a game on deck tomorrow can subtly cap the tempo. Second, Alabama +3.5 at -110 is a smart way to back the Tide’s depth and volatility without having to win outright; the guard waves, recent bench production, and shot profile are built to keep this within a possession or two deep into the second half. Finally, with moneyline pricing sitting on Alabama versus Gonzaga, the value nudge lands with the Tide in what profiles as a high-leverage, neutral-floor contest. Our read: Gonzaga has the slightly higher base-case win probability, but Alabama offers better bang for the buck.
Put it together: Under 173.5 for the primary ticket, Alabama +3.5 for cushion, and a smaller sprinkle on Tide moneyline. That trio aligns with pace friction, rebounding control, and the guard-vs-frontcourt chess match that should define Monday night in Vegas.
