Alabama's offensive prowess is no secret. They'll be able to score almost at will on Friday. For this game to stay close (within 21 points) Robert Morris will have to shoot lights out. The Tide reserves should get plenty of action here, and I expect Nate Oats' team to roll into the second round with a huge first round win.

The cautionary tale for Bama backers is last March's first-round vs. Charleston, when the Tide was ready to deal and had expanded the lead to 31 with seven minutes to play before the Cougars "won" garbage time and made the final score a more-flattering 109-96. The question this March is if the home team of the Pittsburgh Airport (RMU) can do something similar, because these two are from different worlds in college hoops, plus word the Tide's 6-11 Grant Nelson should be available after last week's knee scare. The Bama nation's top-scoring offense (91.1 ppg) should move thru the Colonials with ease, with the mystery coming late and if the Tide reserves can hold (or expand) an expected heavy lead. Play Alabama (NCAA at Cleveland)

Robert Morris should be a 12/13. They have a 6-9 kid from Spain who can keep them in this game, and if Alabama sleepwalks here I think this could get very uncomfortable for them. The three ball isn't falling early, it could get way tighter than this line implies. You won't find many blowouts of this magnitude from the Tide in big dance. They don't even pretend to play defense, so RM should be able to hold on to the ball. ALA will try to dictate their breakneck tempo, but do they go all out to win by 25? RM will fight til the end and play with pride. ALA just 9-8 ATS vs unranked teams and 6-7 ATS outside SEC.