Sam Houston @ #20 Alabama
College basketball 2026-27 · Conference USA vs SEC · · Coleman Coliseum
- Sam Houston CUSA 0-0, 9th · 0-0 overall
- Alabama AP #20 · SEC 0-0, 1st · 0-0 overall
Game day
Tip-offThe line
| Market | AZMango | |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | No line yet | ALA -12.5 |
| Total | n/a | 168.3 |
| Moneyline | n/a | SHSU +633 ALA -633 fair |
No betting line has been posted for this game yet. Sportsbooks usually post college basketball lines the day before; a few small-conference games get one only on game day or not at all. Books also take a line down for a while when a key player's status is unclear. We check ESPN and The Odds API several times a day and add the line as soon as there is one.
5,000 simulated games
Advantages Why Alabama can win
- Season-long ratings: betting lines have rated Alabama about 5.5 points stronger over recent games.
- Home court: Alabama play at home, worth about 3 points in college basketball, more than in the NBA.
- Alabama's offense (122.1 points per 100 possessions, 5th in Division I) meets a Sam Houston defense that ranks 191st.
- Strength of schedule: Alabama 2nd (+2.4), Sam Houston 211th (-0.2) of 365.
- Team matchup: where Alabama can take advantage. Their shooting efficiency (34th of 365) meets the Sam Houston shooting defense (181st), so look for them to get clean looks against a defense that gives them up. And their offensive rebounding (111th of 365) meets the Sam Houston defensive rebounding (168th): a chance to crash the glass for second chances.
- Star matchup: Best player against best player, Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama: 22.0 pts, 3.5 reb, 5.0 ast, Game Score 17.0) has the edge on Kashie Natt (Sam Houston: 10.8 pts, 8.2 reb, 2.4 ast, Game Score 11.4).
- Simulation: Alabama win 4,320 of 5,000 simulated games.
Disadvantages Why Alabama may not
- Sam Houston's offense (113.2 points per 100 possessions, 80th in Division I) meets a Alabama defense that ranks 233rd.
- Range of outcomes: in the worst 10% of simulations Alabama lose by 2 or more.
- Turnovers forced per 100 possessions: Sam Houston 218th (16.1), Alabama 358th (12.8) of 365.
- Weak spot: Alabama rank 358th of 365 in turnovers forced per 100 possessions (12.8).
- Team matchup: where Sam Houston can push back. Their offensive rebounding (25th of 365) meets the Alabama defensive rebounding (295th), so look for them to crash the glass for second chances.
- Star matchup: the key positions lean Alabama on paper, but Kashie Natt (10.8 pts, 8.2 reb, 2.4 ast, Game Score 11.4) is the kind of player who can swing one game.
- Upset odds: Sam Houston win 680 of 5,000 simulations (14%). A 86% pick still loses about 1 time in 10.
🥭 Mango Sliced Facts
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Team news
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Headlines from ESPN and CBS Sports, each linked to the full story. Injuries, lineups, suspensions and coaching news come first. We leave out rumors, gossip about players' private lives and betting promos.
Still out?
Regulars who sat out each team's last game. We count them as likely out.
SHSU Sam Houston
Every regular played last game.
ALA Alabama
Every regular played last game.
Also checked (who played in recent games, ESPN team rosters, ESPN and CBS Sports news): nothing beyond the report.
Side by side
| SHSU | ALA | |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | Record | 0-0 |
| +4.4 104 | Net rating | +11.3 40 |
| 113.2 80 | Offensive rating | 122.1 5 |
| 108.9 191 | Defensive rating | 110.7 233 |
| -0.2 211 | Strength of schedule | +2.4 2 |
| 52.5% 128 | Effective FG% | 55.2% 34 |
| 51.4% 181 | Opponent eFG% | 49.2% 73 |
| 16.8 181 | Turnovers per 100 | 13.1 9 |
| 35.9% 25 | Offensive rebound % | 32.4% 111 |
| 37.2% 24 | 3-point % | 35.8% 66 |
| 70.6 88 | Pace | 74.7 7 |
Small numbers are ranks among 365 Division I teams (1 = best; pace 1 = fastest). Ratings are points per 100 possessions; strength of schedule is the average rating of opponents faced (2025-26 season and this season so far).
Last 5 meetings
These teams have not met since 2009.
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