Roll Tide Wire staff predictions for Alabama vs. Michigan in Sweet 16
The Roll Tide Wire staff make their predictions for Alabama vs. Michigan in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.
If the Alabama Crimson Tide want to reach the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season, they will have to pass a significant test Friday night in order to do it. The Crimson Tide are matched up against the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16, a team that is a No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, and are considered one of the best in college basketball.
Led by head coach Dusty May, Michigan enters the matchup sitting at 33-3 overall, and are one of the nation's premier teams when it comes to scoring, blocks, and field goal percentage, among other statistical categories. An overall significant test for the Crimson Tide, Alabama would advance to the Elite Eight on Sunday night if they were to defeat Michigan, which is where a matchup with either Iowa State or Tennessee would await. Can Alabama pull off the upset though, and shock the college basketball world as big underdogs ?
Here is who Roll Tide Wire predicts to win the Sweet 16 showdown between Alabama and Michigan, as well as why. Matt Melton's prediction: Alabama Crimson Tide 83, Michigan Wolverines 87 Two elite offensive teams, this Sweet 16 showdown will be won in the paint Friday night between the Crimson Tide and Wolverines, an area on the court where an argument can be made that Michigan has a notable advantage with the likes of Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara. It will be key for Alabama to have a fast start, similar to the Texas Tech game, as well as play one of their best overall games of the season, because if the Wolverines start to build a lead, it might be hard for the Crimson Tide to come from behind against a team as good as Michigan.
Steve Holley's prediction: Michigan Wolverines 88, Alabama Crimson Tide 80 Michigan's size will be too much for Alabama. We saw how the size component played out earlier in the year against another physical team in Arizona. I've never thought this was one of Nate Oats' particularly "best" teams, but it's a credit to him and the players that the Crimson Tide made another Sweet 16 appearance.