Bol Bowen shines in NCAA first-round win Alabama forward Taylor Bol Bowen delivered a standout performance in the Crimson Tide’s 90-70 victory over 13-seed Hofstra in the NCAA tournament first round on Friday. The game, played at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, marked Bowen’s second-highest scoring output of the season. He finished with 15 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, while adding three blocked shots. Bowen’s performance was his best since the team’s 103-96 win over St. John’s in November, when he scored 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. It also marked his first double-digit scoring game since the Crimson Tide’s 100-75 win over Mississippi State on February 25. Despite dealing with injuries during conference play—including a right leg injury and a hand injury—Bowen has shown resilience in recent weeks. Head coach Nate Oats praised Bowen’s effort, calling him “super proud” of the player’s perseverance. Oats noted that Bowen faced challenges throughout the season, including moments of frustration due to his injuries. However, the coach emphasized that Bowen has been focused and determined in the past month. “He’s locked in for the last month,” Oats said. Bowen was a key contributor to Alabama’s non-conference success, averaging 9.3 points per game and recording six double-digit scoring performances. His recent resurgence has positioned him as a vital part of the team’s rotation as the season progresses. Oats also highlighted Bowen’s mindset, stating, “I think he’s worried about playing hard, the right stuff.” The Crimson Tide will continue their NCAA tournament run on Sunday when they face 5-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders. The game is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. CT and will be televised on TBS.#ncaa_tournament #benchmark_international_arena #nate_oats #tampa #bol_bowen
Alabama vs. Texas Tech Odds, Prediction: 2026 NCAA Tournament Picks from Proven Model The second-round matchup in the 2026 NCAA Tournament will feature the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide facing the No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Sunday. Alabama enters the game after a 90-70 victory over Hofstra in the first round, with a 24-9 overall record. Texas Tech secured its spot with a 91-71 win against Akron, posting a 23-10 season record. The game is set for 9:45 p.m. ET at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, marking the final contest of the Midwest Region’s second-round slate. Texas Tech is listed as 1.5-point favorites in the latest odds, a slight shift from Alabama’s initial 1.5-point advantage. The game’s total points are projected at 164.5, the highest among all Sunday second-round matchups, reflecting a 10-point increase over the previous season’s totals. The matchup’s high total suggests a potentially offensive game, with both teams showing strong scoring capabilities in recent contests. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated consistent success in NCAA Tournament predictions, has analyzed the matchup extensively. The model has simulated the game 10,000 times, concluding that the total points will likely exceed the over/under. Additionally, the model identifies one side of the spread as having a greater than 50% chance of success, though the exact outcome remains uncertain. The model’s track record includes a 11-1 performance on over/under picks since last year and a 28-22 record on top-rated college basketball side picks. These results highlight its reliability in predicting tournament outcomes. For fans seeking guidance on betting or game strategy, the model’s insights provide a data-driven approach to navigating the matchup.#alabama_crimson_tide #ncaa_tournament #sportsline #benchmark_international_arena #texas_tech_red_raiders
Florida vs. Prairie View A&M Odds, March Madness Predictions: 2026 NCAA Tournament Picks from Proven Model The 16th-seeded Prairie View A&M Panthers will face the top-seeded Florida Gators in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. Prairie View A&M, which defeated Lehigh 67-55 in the First Four, enters the matchup on an eight-game winning streak. The Panthers finished eighth in the SWAC standings with a 9-9 record. Florida, the SEC regular-season champions with a 16-2 conference mark, lost its semifinal game to Vanderbilt 91-74. The Gators have won 12 of their last 13 games. The game will take place at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, with a tipoff time of 9:25 p.m. ET. Florida is listed as a 35.5-point favorite in the latest odds, while the total points scored are set at 154.5. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has a strong track record of accuracy in college basketball predictions, has simulated the matchup 10,000 times. The model’s analysis suggests the game will be a high-scoring affair, with the Over (155.5 points) projected to win in more than half of the simulations. The model’s projections highlight key player contributions. Prairie View A&M is expected to have three players scoring 19 points or more, with Dontae Horne projected to lead the way at 19 points. Florida, meanwhile, is predicted to have six players scoring 11 points or more, with Thomas Haugh projected to score 20 points. The model’s total point projection of 157 aligns with the Over’s dominance in the simulations. SportsLine’s model also notes that Prairie View A&M is 10-0 against the spread in its last 10 games, while Florida is 6-4 ATS in its last 10 contests.#ncaa_tournament #sportsline #florida_gators #benchmark_international_arena #prairie_view_am
Red Wings at Lightning: Notes, Lines, Goalies, How to Watch The Detroit Red Wings, with a record of 36-22-7, are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in a road matchup. The Red Wings currently hold the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, maintaining a three-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are the top team below the wildcard cut line. The Lightning, meanwhile, are in second place in the Atlantic Division. The game will take place at the Benchmark International Arena, with coverage available via FanDuel Sports Network and 97.1 FM radio. Betting odds show the Red Wings as slight underdogs at +1.5 (-142) and the Lightning as favorites at -1.5 (+120). Key players for the Red Wings include Patrick Kane, who has recorded a goal, three assists, and nine shots on goal in his last three games. However, the team is struggling with consistency, posting only four wins in their past 12 contests. Marco Kasper has emerged as a critical player, but the Red Wings need him to perform confidently over the next two weeks to secure points. Coach Todd McLellan confirmed that Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, both sidelined with leg injuries, will miss the next two weeks before reassessing their status. David Perron, acquired from Ottawa last week, is expected to return in a week after practicing in a regular jersey and taking line rushes. The Red Wings’ record without Larkin is 5-11 in their last 16 games, and they have a strong 18-11-4 record on the road. Injuries to Larkin (lower body, day-to-day) and Perron (sports hernia surgery) add to the team’s challenges. For the Lightning, the team has lost six of their last seven games, including a 5-2 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets.#tampa_bay_lightning #detroit_red_wings #benchmark_international_arena #fan_duel_sports_network #97_1_fm
