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First Look: Houston vs. Duke predictions, picks and best bets for Final Four matchup

For only the second time since the NCAA Tournament first expanded in 1979, the Final Four will feature all four No. 1 seeds: Auburn, Florida, Houston, and Duke. The latter two teams, Houston and Duke, will battle on CBS this Saturday, April 5, at 8:49 PM ET.

Can the Cougars finally get over the hump and get one step closer to a national championship under Kelvin Sampson, or will Cooper Flagg propel Duke to another title game?

The Blue Devils are 5.5-point favorites, according to the latest March Madness odds. The total is hovering around 136.5. Let’s get into my Houston vs. Duke predictions and best bets for Saturday night.

Houston vs. Duke Predictions and best bets for Final Four

Duke Blue Devils -5.5: -105 at DraftKings
Under 136.5 Points: -110 at bet365
Duke to win and Cooper Flagg to score 15+ points: -125 at FanDuel

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

Houston has had a tremendous campaign, continuing its dominance on the defensive end of the floor and the offensive glass while also improving substantially on offense.

The Cougars have been a top-five team in turnovers per game and 3-point shooting percentage, which has helped them tremendously reduce their offensive dry spells.

However, Houston still lacks enough firepower to keep up with Duke, the best team in the history of KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin metric. The Blue Devils started the 2024-25 regular season slow offensively, but have been dynamite during the second half of the year.

In fact, Duke has shot 52.4% from the floor, 40.8% from 3-point range, and 82.3% from the charity stripe while committing merely 8.0 turnovers per game over its past 14 outings.

I don’t think Duke can be beaten at this point. The Blue Devils are playing their best basketball at the right time, and Houston’s only real chance would be if it hit a ton of 3-pointers.

Unfortunately for Houston, Duke has held its past six opponents to just 28.1% shooting from deep. The Cougars could keep it close for a while, but Duke will break away in a somewhat low-scoring game by the final horn.

In addition, expect Flagg to continue his red-hot play by scoring at least 15 points, which he has done in 12 of his past 13 outings, not including the game against Georgia Tech when he suffered an untimely ankle injury.

Houston vs. Duke moneyline odds analysis

On Monday afternoon, the Duke Blue Devils (-250) were listed as 5.5-point favorites over the Houston Cougars (+205) ahead of their Final Four game this weekend.

Duke has been one of the best teams this season against the spread, boasting a 25-13 ATS record. Meanwhile, the Cougars are a respectable 20-17-1 against the spread entering this matchup.

Why Duke could win as the favorite

Best odds: -230 at FanDuel

Duke is the country’s most well-balanced and talented team, led by veteran guard Tyrese Proctor and freshmen sensations Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

The “moment” has in no way, shape, or form looked too big for Flagg, Knueppel, or any of the Blue Devils’ other talented players, so it should not be a surprise that they have cruised through the 2025 NCAA Tournament thus far.

The Blue Devils have the highest adjusted efficiency margin of any team in the Kenpom.com database, meaning that this year’s Duke team might be one of the greatest in recent memory and possibly of all time.

Duke has the best offense in the country and does not have weak spots on either end of the floor, meaning that to beat the Blue Devils, an opponent has to play their absolute best. There is no margin for error.

Why Houston could win as the underdog

Best odds: +210 at Caesars

This Houston team is one of college basketball’s most physical and relentless defensive teams this season. The Cougs rank first in adjusted defensive efficiency (per Kenpom.com), first in opponent points per game, second in opponent effective field goal percentage, and 13th in block percentage nationally.

A few key things differentiate this season’s Houston team from previous ones: three-point shooting, ball handling, and overall offensive efficiency. Under head coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougs have always been terrific in offensive rebounding and defense.

However, during the 2024-25 season, Houston has also managed to be one of the top 3-point-shooting teams in the country (third in 3P%), and it scarcely turns the ball over (fourth in turnovers per game).

General

Popular Texas doughnut chain coming to another Alabama city

Texas-based Shipley Do-Nuts is planning to open a new location in Huntsville.

LandCo Real Estate announced through social media that the franchise has signed a lease to open a location at 1010 North Memorial Parkway.

The new buildings at that location offer office, retail and restaurant space.

There was no anticipated opening date announced.

Founded in 1936, Shipley Do-Nuts serves up glazed, filled and cake doughnuts and kolaches, as well as other pastries and coffee.

In 2023, Shipley said it was targeting more than 30 Alabama cities for expansion.

Shipley currently has a location at 2050 Greenvale Lane in Hoover.

For more information, visit the website.

General

Tiger Woods devastates fans with April Fools prank about Masters news

Tiger Woods said he’s ready to play in the Masters next week at Augusta.

He also made the statement on April Fools’ Day.

Woods, a 15-time major champion, messed with fans on social media Tuesday, posting he was going to play in the annual tournament.

“I can’t believe I am saying this, but a few weeks after rupturing my left Achilles, the sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber plus the explosive lifts my doctors and trainers have me ready to play the Masters next week!” he posted. “Can’t wait! See y’all on the course.”

Five minutes later, Woods posted it was nothing more than an April Fools joke, stating his Achilles “is still a mess.”

Woods is expected to be at Augusta National for the Champions Dinner.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

UAB basketball star in transfer portal, reportedly drawing major SEC interest

UAB basketball standout Yaxel Lendeborg has entered the transfer portal and declared for the NBA draft while also retaining his college eligibility, according to multiple reports.

Lendeborg — who has one season of college eligibility remaining — posted a “goodbye” message to UAB basketball and its fans on social media late Wednesday, but made no mention of entering the portal or turning pro. However, Joe Tipton of On3 Sports reported that the 6-foot-9 power forward has already received extensive transfer interest from numerous power programs, including Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Michigan.

Here’s Lendeborg’s goodbye message (which was reposted by Blazers coach Andy Kennedy, among others):

A Puerto Rico native who grew up in New Jersey, Lendeborg was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-AAC pick in both of his seasons at UAB. He averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 blocks this season for a Blazers team that finished 24-13 and reached the quarterfinals of the NIT.

Lendeborg played his first two seasons of college basketball at Arizona Western Junior College, where he was an All-American and set the NJCAA career record for rebounds. He played two seasons at UAB, but received an additional year of college eligibility after the NCAA’s Diego Pavia ruling in December.

Players who declare for the NBA draft prior to the April 26 deadline have until June 15 to withdraw from consideration and return to college without affecting their eligibility.

General

How to watch the new ‘The Death Coast’ series, where to stream free

The brand new series The Death Coast premieres on the History Channel Tuesday, April 1 at 10/9c.

History buffs and adventure seekers can unite for this series as it follows Cape Breton’s Captain Jeff MacKinnon, a third-generation shipwreck salvager. MacKinnon along with his team of ex FBI, military and police divers risk everything to uncover lost artifacts and hidden treasure beneath the waters of the North Atlantic.

As the name of the series depicts, the show centers the team search “The Death Coast”—an area of rough sea in the North Atlantic that’s claimed more than six thousand vessels across centuries. Many sailors met their downfall after braving these waters for trade, war, and plunder.

Gold and priceless objects from their wrecked ships now lie scattered across the ocean floor but salvaging has been banned for the last decade. After a long battle, MacKinnon has won exclusive rights to dive and his team has just 12 weeks to search the wrecks before the turbulent waters of the Death Coast make diving impossible.

MacKinnon’s team is comprised of Dan Griego, Mike Haas, Mike Pizzio, Jim Sinclair and Dr. Aaron Taylor.

What can I expect from The Death Coast’s premiere episode?

Those tuning in for the premiere episode will follow MacKinnon and his team as they hunt for the Le Chameau, an 18th-century French cargo and passenger ship that sank with a fortune in rare coins.

Armed with a 300-year-old map and backed by a world-class team of divers, MacKinnon races against time—and the unforgiving ocean— to recover the Chameau’s lost treasure before the relentless storms of the Death Coast shut him down.

Where can I watch The Death Coast?

Those interested in catching this high-intensity series can stream the show through Philo or DirecTV Stream—both of which have free trials set up for new subscribers. Out of the two, Philo is the cheaper option at just $28 a month after its free trial.

The Death Coast is also available for streaming through Sling, and although there is no free trial, Sling is offering new subscribers half off their first month.

What is Philo?

Philo is one of the cheapest basic cable alternatives currently on the market. Users can access over 70 live TV channels for just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial.

Some of the most popular channels available through Philo include MTV, AMC, HGTV, Discovery Channel, CMT, TLC, BET and more. Users can stream these channels and various movies/TV shows on-demand.

Philo subscribers can take advantage of useful features such as the unlimited DVR option which makes recording favorite content simple.

What is DirecTV Stream?

Much like other top streaming services, DirecTV Stream offers subscribers with a plethora of live TV channels and helpful features, too. The Entertainment package, also known as DirecTV Stream’s base package, starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

Two other DirecTV Stream packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $25 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

DirecTV Stream has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allow subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. Whether it’s MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews or MiEspañol, users can get the channels and content they want without the worry of filler channel overload. Genre packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV Stream’s channel packages and genre packs can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another basic cable alternative to consider if you’re looking to ditch the hassle of traditional cable. Sling users can stream on-demand movies, live TV shows and live sports instantly on all favorite devices.

Though there is no free trial through Sling, there is an ongoing promotion offering half off your first month with any Sling plan. Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month but start streaming with Sling for just $23 your first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

General

Birmingham woman, 21, killed in shooting at Pleasant Grove home; suspect jailed

A young woman was shot to death at a Pleasant Grove home.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Montease Yvonne Booker. She was 21 and lived in Birmingham.

The shooting happened at 5:21 a.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Seventh Place.

Police Chief Daniel Reid said officers were dispatched to the home on a report of a person shot.

When they arrived, they found 31-year-old Devin Jamar Johnson standing in the front yard. A pistol was on the roof of a car nearby.

Officers entered the house and found Booker had been shot multiple times.

She was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:28 a.m.

Reid said statements from Johnson, as well as several other witnesses, led to officers takingJohnson into custody at the scene.

No motive is known at this time.

Johnson is currently being held in the Pleasant Grove city jail awaiting a formal charging of murder, Reid said.

Booker is Pleasant Grove’s first homicide this year.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 32 homicides, including Booker’s slaying.

General

Three of the most obese cities in the US are in Alabama

The Heart of Dixie might need some cardio workouts – Alabama is home to three of the most obese cities in the United States.

Credit and financial site WalletHub is out with an analysis, ranking 100 U.S. metro areas across 19 indicators of weight-related problems.

To come up with the list, the site looked at three indicators of weight, health and fitness.

For example, the analysis examined the number of overweight and obese people in each area, the share of the population with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and the share engaging in physical activity.

In all, 19 metrics were examined, with points awarded in each category. The highest scoring cities ranked higher.

Surveys suggest more than 40% of Americans are overweight, a statistic with massive consequences of a different kind, in terms of health care costs, productivity and quality of life.

McAllen, Texas tipped the scales at the top of the list, followed by Little Rock, Ark., and Jackson, Miss.

Mobile came in fourth nationally, with Birmingham sitting at 10th. Huntsville huffed its way to finishing at 32.

Mobile got its high rank due to a second place finish in the list of cities with high medical consequences of obesity. Birmingham, according to the list, needs to work on its physical fitness grades.

And lest Huntsville get too smug, it could also improve its exercise scores, according to the ranking.

At the bottom of the list – Honolulu, Hawaii, which seems mildly unfair.

General

Detroit Lions ‘likely’ to keep former Alabama All-American through 2026

The Detroit Lions have one month to make a decision on wide receiver Jameson Williams’ future with the team.

As a first-round draft choice, the former Alabama All-American’s four-year contract contains a team option for a fifth season. The Lions must decide if they will exercise that option for the 2026 NFL season by May 1.

“It’s heading that way that we are most likely going to be doing that,” Detroit general manager Brad Holmes said at the NFL’s annual meeting this week in Palm Beach, Florida. “He was a tremendous player for us last year. He’s still scratching the surface. I do think he’s got more in him as well, so I just think it just makes sense for us to do what we can to keep him around.”

That might not have been the decision if the choice had come after Williams’ first two seasons.

Through Williams’ first two seasons, the Lions got 25 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns and four rushing attempts for 69 yards and one touchdown in 18 regular-season games from the wide receiver.

But after Williams scored two touchdowns in the Lions’ 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game for the 2023 season, he broke out in 2024 with 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns and 11 rushing attempts for 61 yards and one touchdown.

Williams also had a 61-yard touchdown run in the Lions’ 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the second round of the NFC playoffs on Jan. 18.

If the Lions pick up their option on Williams’ contract, Detroit will guarantee the wide receiver a pay day of $15.493 million for the 2026 season. That’s the average of the third through 25th highest salaries at wide receiver over the past five seasons.

The fifth-year option isn’t Detroit’s only means of preventing Williams from becoming an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. The Lions could use their franchise tag on the wide receiver next offseason or sign Williams to a long-term contract. Neither might be financially feasible for the team right now.

“We’re still taking it as it goes,” Holmes said. “His fifth-year option’s coming. It’s looking likely that we’ll just go ahead and pick that up. But in terms of extension, again, there’s a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming. But it’s just one that you don’t know what’s going to happen from a financial standpoint because a wide receiver, it’s expensive. It’s very expensive.

“Look, these are good problems to have, but I don’t want our fans to think we’re just not making the splashy moves because we don’t want to do that. It’s just we’re being disciplined, wanting to make sure we’re able to sustain winning but also win now.”

Williams has one season remaining on his four-year, $17.462 million rookie contract, signed after the Lions traded up to make him the 12th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Detroit is scheduled to pay Williams $3.086 million for the 2025 season, which is 61st on the wide-receiver pay chart.

The Lions have benefited by getting all-star production with the cost control that comes with drafted players, who have predetermined contract amounts based on their pick position for their first four seasons.

Safety Kerby Joseph, a 2022 third-round pick, is entering the final season of his rookie contract after making first-team All-Pro in 2024. The Lions drafted defensive end Aidan Hutchinson before they picked Williamson in 2022. The 2023 draft yielded running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell in the first round and tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch in the second round. Picked in 2024’s first round, cornerback Terrion Arnold went right into Detroit’s lineup.

As draft picks, those players signed four-year contracts, with the first-rounders’ deals carrying fifth-year options.

“We have so many of these young players that have been on rookie deals,” Holmes said, “and we’ve been enjoying the impact that they’ve all been bringing. But now a bill is coming. What you spend this year is going to impact next year. It even impacts 2027.”

Fifth-year options come in four designations, and Williams is in the most inexpensive of the tiers.

The levels include:

Players who have been selected for at least two Pro Bowls on the original ballot for the all-star event.
Players who have been selected for one Pro Bowl on the original ballot.
Players who have not been Pro Bowlers but have played at least 75 percent of the offensive or defensive snaps in two seasons or 50 percent of the overall snaps in three seasons.
Players who have not reached the Pro Bowl or the playing-time standards.

Williams’ option is in the most inexpensive of the four slots, but Hutchinson’s is in the second-most expensive. Because he’s a one-time Pro Bowl selection, Hutchinson’s fifth-year option will cost Detroit $20.862 million for the 2026 season, if the team chooses to pick it up in the next month.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

General

$14 million gym coming to site of closed US 280 movie theater

A $14 million gymnasium will occupy a 68,000-square-foot building that was formerly the site of a multi-screen cinema.

Onelife Fitness has announced it will open a Sports Club at 801 Doug Baker Boulevard in Lee Branch just off U.S. 280.

The fitness center will occupy the space that was AMC Classic Lee Branch 15, which closed last month off U.S. 280.

Earlier this year Onelife Fitness announced it is planning at least six health clubs for the Birmingham area, with the first one in McCalla. Onelife Fitness McCalla is under construction and will open a preview center in May, with the club opening by the end of this year

Onelife Fitness Lee Branch will feature the brand’s flagship design, and will offer cardio and strength training, functional turf workout areas, an indoor saltwater pool, group fitness classes, cold plunges and saunas.

About 100 people are expected to be hired.

The gym will also feature boutique-style fitness classes, such as BodyPump, Zumba, and APEX-HITT. Its Holistic Mind & Body Studio will have barre, yoga and Pilates classes.

There will also be a strike boxing studio, advanced cycling studio, and recovery studio with HydroMassage, red light therapy, and percussion and compression therapy.

A kids club for children ages 3 months to 11 years will have a gaming area, basketball and cinema.

General

Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter sentenced after 3 felony drug arrests

Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter Chelsea, who was arrested three times between September and December, was sentenced to six years of probation, according to PEOPLE.

Chelsea Belle O’Donnell, 27, pled guilty to resisting or obstructing an officer, felony bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine.

Her misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of narcotic drugs were both dismissed.

PEOPLE reports the conditions of probation include sobriety, no possession of alcohol or another controlled substance without a valid prescription, no contact with any known drug users or sellers, and no possession or ownership of any firearm.

On Sept. 10, Chelsea Belle O’Donnell was arrest and charged with neglecting a child and possession of methamphetamine.

She was arrested a month later and charged with, among others, bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, and possession of methamphetamine.

In November, she was charged with possession of methamphetamine, bail jumping and possession of narcotic drugs.