Alabama vs. UConn Player Props & Prediction: Will Clingan Dominate in Final Four?

C Jackson Cowart

Last Updated: April 6, 2024 6:21 PM EDT • 3 min 35 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

Donovan Clingan and the UConn Huskies face off with Mark Sears and the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, as we offer our best Alabama vs. UConn player props based on the top Final Four odds.

Continuing their reign of dominance, the top-seeded UConn Huskies secured their second consecutive Final Four appearance, building on their triumph in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. They march into Saturday's semifinal showdown as commanding 11.5-point favorites against the No. 4 seeded Alabama Crimson Tide, with the game set to tip off at 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS, live from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Throughout the tournament, UConn has maintained a stronghold as the frontrunner and favorite by the March Madness odds, largely attributed to the stellar performance of center Donovan Clingan. Among the favorites according to the March Madness MVP odds, Clingan's prowess is expected to leave a significant impact on Saturday's Final Four, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.

Along with our Alabama vs. UConn prediction and other men's Final Four expert picks, here are our best Alabama vs. UConn player props (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Alabama vs. UConn player props

Donovan Clingan Over 25.5 points + rebounds ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -105 via DraftKings

As I discussed in detail in my preview of this game, Clingan's impact on defense could be the deciding factor for Saturday's contest. But the UConn center has been pretty effective on the offensive end, too.

In the Elite Eight against Illinois, the 7-foot-2 sophomore dropped 22 points in just 22 minutes, adding 10 rebounds for good measure. He's averaging 17 points and 11.2 boards over his last five games, even with his team blowing out the competition in all five of those wins.

I see no reason that Clingan can't produce a similar showing against Alabama, which ranks 105th in adjusted defensive efficiency with one of the worst defensive rebound rates (30.9%) in the country. With FanDuel offering this same prop at -122 odds, I love the value at DraftKings on a very reasonable total.

DraftKings college basketball promo

Place a three-plus leg SGP on Saturday through DraftKings and get bonus bets back if one leg loses. Click here! And use our DraftKings promo code.

Bet $5, Get $150 + $1K Deposit Bonus

Terms and conditions apply.

Claim $150

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Not intended for use in MA
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook

Mark Sears Under 23.5 points + assists ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -108 via FanDuel

I'm expecting Alabama to fall well below its projected scoring total of 74.5 in this game. So, naturally, I'm pessimistic about the Crimson Tide's leading scorer having a fruitful evening on Saturday.

Sears has been on a tear as of late, averaging 24.3 points with 3.8 assists in this tournament, though he needed seven 3-pointers to carry his 23-point effort in the Elite Eight. I'd be surprised if he finds that type of success against UConn's defense, which ranks fourth in adjusted efficiency and is loaded with capable defenders beyond just Clingan.

The reason I'm targeting Sears' assist total, too, is I suspect his teammates will have just as much trouble generating offense. The senior guard has logged a combined four assists in his last two games, and I don't expect a major shift against perhaps the best defense in the country.

Win $150 + NBA League Pass 🏀

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place first bet of $5+ and win $150 in Bonus Bets (within 72 hours).

Claim $150

Grant Nelson Under 10.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via FanDuel

We successfully faded Nelson in the Elite Eight when he scored just eight points following his 24-point outburst in the Sweet 16. And we're going back to the well ahead of Saturday's Final Four.

Nelson deservedly etched his name in tournament lore with that stunning performance against UNC, when he hit two threes and 10 free throws in the best game of his life. That was also the only time he's scored more than eight points through four rounds of March Madness, and he's attempted fewer than five shots in three of those outings.

I don't expect him to be a featured focus against Clingan and Co., and clearly our best sports betting sites agree, pricing him at 9.5 points across the board. The lone exception is FanDuel, which is hanging a total of 10.5 that we should pounce on now.

Alabama (4) vs. UConn (1) game info

When: Saturday, April 6
Tip-off: 8:49 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
How to watch: TBS
Favorite: UConn -11.5 (-105 via Caesars)

Alabama vs. UConn odds

Alabama-UConn player props made Friday at 4:45 p.m. ET.

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Best Live Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)

Written By:
C Jackson Cowart

C Jackson Cowart is a publishing editor and lead writer for Sportsbook Review. An award-winning writer, reporter, and editor with a decade of sports media experience, "C-Jax" has worked with ESPN, Forbes, theScore, and various daily newspapers before joining the Sportsbook Review team. He's a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he served as a beat writer for the Tar Heels' championship run through the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2017. Jackson has spent the last five years covering sports betting as a predictive analyst, features writer, and industry reporter. Since joining the team in 2023, he's played a key role in Sportsbook Review's coverage of the Super Bowl, March Madness, and NBA playoffs while serving as the lead writer for the growing WNBA and NASCAR betting scenes. Though he's cashed some big bets over the years -- including Lamar Jackson to win MVP (twice) -- he's still haunted by enough second-place bet slips to wallpaper his home office. While Jackson is a committed "process over results" bettor with a keen eye for advanced stats and subtle bias in futures markets, he also embraces sports betting as a vehicle for entertainment and personal investment. He's written about everything from hot dogs to groundhogs and still hasn't forgiven his "inside source" for a sabotaged bet on the Gatorade color in Super Bowl LV.