The Texas Longhorns host the No. 13-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in an SEC showdown at 8:00 p.m. ET. In the past, this matchup has been one-sided, with Texas holding a 9-5 record over Alabama. But Alabama defeated Texas 103-80 in its previous game in February 2025. The Tide is 11-4 on the season while the Longhorns are 9-6.
Alabama is coming off a six-point loss to Vanderbilt on Wednesday, while Texas is on a two-game losing streak. The Longhorns’ last win against a team from a major conference came against NC State on November 26. Here is my best bet for tonight’s Alabama vs. Texas game.
Texas vs. Alabama (8:00 p.m. ET)
During Sean Miller’s first season at Texas, the Longhorns have had their ups and downs. Texas has struggled against top-tier competition, losing its last four games against an ACC, Big East, or SEC opponent.
They have a guard-heavy roster, with five of their top six scorers being from the backcourt. Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis each average at least 15 points per contest for Texas. Alabama also has many talented guards, including Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway. Philon and Holloway are one of the best backcourts in college basketball and should have the advantage against Texas.
KenPom has these two teams far apart, with Alabama at No. 14 and Texas at No. 51. Texas’ defensive rating is 120th, while Alabama’s is 67th. Alabama has scored 90-plus points in four of its last five contests.
Alabama enters this game off a loss, but it was against No. 11 Vanderbilt, which is 16-0 on the season. The Crimson Tide has won seven of its 11 games this season by at least 12 points. Three of their past five victories have come by 12 or more. Texas is coming off a 14-point loss to Tennessee, which has been struggling a ton lately. Since neither team excels on defense, this game will likely be a high-scoring contest, favoring the Crimson Tide.
