It just got real … tasty.

There’s more than just advancing to the next round on the line Thursday when No. 1 overall seed Alabama faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the opening round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

There’s BBQ riding on this thing.

Nate Oats’ Tide is a heavy favorite, but that didn’t stop Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo from throwing down a friendly wager on the game.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox appears more than willing to take some of Texas’ best BBQ off Guajardo’s hands, while offering up some Dreamland on the off chance the Islanders pull off the upset.

Isaac Mushila had 15 points and 12 rebounds as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held off Southeast Missouri State 75-71 to earn the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The 16th-seeded Islanders, winners of the Southland Conference, returned to the First Four for a second straight season and led for all but 23 seconds.

Alabama, meanwhile, is a No. 1 seed for the first time after sweeping the SEC regular season and tournament titles behind league player of the year Brandon Miller. The Tide is coming off an 82-63 romp over Texas A&M in the conference tournament championship game.

To make things more challenging for the Islanders, the Tide will open the tourney not far from home in Birmingham, Alabama.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.