It’ll be UCF over Bama (relax, it’s basketball)

The Central Florida versus Alabama game many have been clamoring for happens Thursday night, only this battle is on the hardwood instead of the gridiron and neither squad is undefeated.

The main attraction in this one belongs to the home team as 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall is making 81.1 percent of his shots from the floor and posting 11.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. The one thing he has not done well is shoot free throws, making 10 of his 34 attempts this season.

His presence has made UCF the 21st most efficient defense among Division I teams and 17th in opponents’ shooting percentage from inside the 3-point arc. With Alabama being a belowaverage team in pace-of-play quickness at 208th and attempting 66.3 percent of its shots from inside the 3-point line, it will force guys such as John Petty and Tevin Mack to shoot more outside shots.

And if this does turn into a battle of outside shooters, UCF point guard Terrell Allen’s 61.5 percent shooting from 3-point range should tip the scales.

UCF defeated Alabama, 65-62, last season in Tuscaloosa, and with Collin Sexton now playing at the professional level, UCF should get the win and cover in Orlando.

THE PLAY: UCF, -6. Greg Peterson writes about college basketball for Point Spread Weekly, VSiN’s digital magazine for sports bettors. He also is a producer for the “That’s Gold! with Steve Hytner” podcast.