It’s been three days too long without NCAA Tournament basketball on our TVs, but the action returns tonight. The East region gets it all started as the No. 6 seed BYU Cougars tip off against the No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide.

The game is scheduled to start at 7:09 PM EST and air on CBS. The winner will face the Arizona-Duke winner in the Elite Eight on Saturday in New Jersey.

Oddsmakers have listed Alabama as a 5.5-point favorite. The over/under for the game is 175.5, according to the latest March Madness odds. Let’s get into my BYU vs. Alabama predictions and best bets for this March Madness Sweet 16 matchup.

BYU vs. Alabama predictions and best bets

• Alabama -5.5: -105 at DraftKings
• Over 175.5: -108 at DraftKings
• Chris Youngblood Over 9.5 Points: -118 at BetMGM

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find when writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

Alabama has been tested this season but remains extremely productive offensively, with 17 games over 80 points against 20 Quad 1 opponents. BYU has a similar makeup but has scored under 80 points in seven of its 17 Q1 games. I don’t think it has the offensive firepower to keep up with the Crimson Tide.

Both teams are very talented in this matchup, but each is an offense-first program. Each of these teams is in the top 10 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings while sitting outside of the top 25 for the defensive metric. Expect plenty of scoring to go around and the over to hit as a result.

Chris Youngblood stepped up in a major way for the Crimson Tide in the Second Round. The senior guard made all three shots from deep to help secure the victory over St. Mary’s.

While it’d be easy to think this line is overcorrection, the Cougars have allowed 27 made shots from three. So I predict Youngblood will get enough looks to get back into double digits on Thursday.

BYU vs. Alabama moneyline analysis

Why Alabama could win as the favorite

Best odds: -205 at FanDuel

The Crimson Tide have handled business so far with victories in their first two matchups over Robert Morris and St. Mary’s.

Alabama’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, averaging 85 points across both tournament games. The team proved capable of producing outside of Mark Sears, as five other players contributed 10 or more points in their Second Round win against the Gaels.

Still, Sears will be the leading piece of this Alabama team. The senior All-American leads the team with 18.6 points and five assists per game. Both of Wisconsin’s star players were able to combine for 58 points in their loss to BYU on Saturday.

Sears will be getting plenty of opportunities to score and will need his surrounding teammates to help add to that total to outpace the Cougars.

The Crimson Tide also has the favor from a historical lens. No. 2 seeds are 26-11 against No. 6 seeds in the tournament, a success rate higher than against any other seed 10 and above.

This matchup projects to be a close contest, as both squads are very similar. However, the Crimson Tide gets the nod as the favorite because the team has them beaten by most advanced metrics.

Alabama has had the better net rating, offensive efficiency rating, defensive efficiency rating, and strength of schedule this season. They’ll look to prove they have the better team when they tip off Thursday evening in Newark, New Jersey.

Why BYU could win as the underdog

Best odds: +185 at Fanatics

Guard Richie Saunders is the focal point for the Cougars. The junior averages 16.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He has scored 10 or more points in the Cougars’ last 11 games—they’ve won 10 of them.

This BYU team takes an offense-first approach, ranking ninth in the country in offensive efficiency and 72nd in defensive efficiency.

With Kevin Young now as head coach, the team has adjusted its shot diet to rely less on the mid-range jumper and attempt more shots from inside the paint and outside on the perimeter.

The key to beating the Cougars is taking advantage of the high volume of three-point shots they allow. However, the Crimson Tide has just one starter who shoots better than 33% from deep.

Momentum is also important to consider when assessing these teams, and BYU is coming off of a dominant shooting performance against the Badgers.

The Cougars shot 49% from field goal range, 46% from three, and 94% from the free throw line. They’ll be hard to match if they keep building on that efficiency. A victory would secure the university’s first trip to the Elite Eight since 1981 when the bracket had just 48 teams.

Young has done a great job of turning a new leaf in his first season as the program’s head coach, but he’ll look to extend the campaign with an impressive upset on Thursday night.