Free Pick | NCAA | Friday | March 22

Nelly’s is off to a 4-0 start to the NCAA Tournament! We are 28-9 in the Round of 64 since 2017 including a 12-2 run since 2022!

In the current season we are on a 4-1 run in our last five 7* top plays as well!

Don’t miss Friday’s Round of 64 7* Top Play or join for an extended subscription:

#783 College of Charleston +9.5 over Alabama 6:35 PM CT

Pat Kelsey has had a respected 12 year career at Winthrop and Charleston and this year’s Cougars team is his very best offensive efficiency team. It is also a team that doesn’t mind playing fast and will go up against a marginal Alabama defense with the defensive efficiency for the Crimson Tide ranking 54th among the 68 teams in the bracket. Alabama has the potential to put up big numbers on offense, but the Tide enter this game having lost four of the past six games and Alabama has trailed at halftime in six of its last seven games. An Alabama squad that relies on 3-point shooting is just 29-115 from 3-point range for 25 percent in the past four games, which is 10 percent worse than the SEC average for the Crimson Tide. Those numbers aren’t likely to improve dramatically now making a long trip to an unfamiliar venue in Spokane with limited fan support, while Charleston is featuring a solid 3-point defense this season. Charleston hasn’t lost since February 1 and having to play tense close games in the CAA Tournament should be beneficial to the team’s chances Friday night. The Cougars are an appealing look in the first half and should be worth consideration for the full game as well as a team that can score enough to stay within a single-digit margin against Alabama.