Closing Michigan vs Auburn Odds, Score Predictions & Betting Splits (Sweet 16)

• The Michigan vs Auburn odds have moved slightly toward the underdog Wolverines, while the total has climbed to 154.5
• Sharp money seems to indicate there is some confidence in a potential Michigan upset victory
• Check out the closing Michigan vs Auburn odds, score predictions, and betting splits for this key March Madness clash

The #5 Michigan Wolverines (27-9, 18-18-0 ATS) look to continue their Cinderella run through March Madness when they battle the #1 Auburn Tigers (30-5, 19-16-0 ATS) in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.

Tipoff from State Farm Arena in Atlanta is scheduled for 9:39 pm ET (6:39 pm PT), with the game broadcast on CBS. The winner advances to the Elite Eight to face either #2 Ole Miss or #7 Michigan State.

Michigan survived a scare against #12 UC San Diego in the first round, narrowly escaping with a 68-65 victory. The Wolverines then pulled another upset by knocking off #4 Texas A&M 91-79 in the second round. Auburn, meanwhile, has had no issues so far, crushing #16 Alabama State 96-66 before dispatching #8 Creighton 88-76 to reach the Sweet 16.

Closing Michigan vs Auburn Odds

Heading into Friday evening’s tipoff, Auburn remains an 8.5-point favorite with -115 odds to cover, after the spread briefly reached 9.5. The moneyline prices the Tigers at -425, equivalent to an 80.95% implied probability they’ll advance to the Elite Eight. Underdog Michigan comes back at +325 (23.53% implied win probability).

The over/under opened at 153.5 points and is now sitting at 154.5, with -115 odds on the over and -105 on the under.

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Auburn enters as the clear favorite, but Michigan has shown it can hang with and beat more talented teams. The Wolverines’ two seven-footers, Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, could cause problems for Auburn star Johni Broome on both ends.

The line movement in Michigan’s direction suggests some bettors are buying into the Wolverines’ upset potential. While Auburn remains the clear favorite, the fact that larger wagers are coming in on Michigan is intriguing. Are sharp bettors sensing vulnerability in the Tigers, or do they simply believe Michigan’s size and defense can keep this game closer than the spread indicates?

Michigan vs Auburn Projected Score

All three major predictive models forecast an Auburn victory by a fairly similar margin. KenPom and Torvik both project an 80-72 Tigers win, while Haslametrics anticipates a slightly closer 79-71 contest in favor of Auburn.

Auburn’s elite offense (3rd in adjusted efficiency per KenPom) figures to be the difference maker. However, Michigan’s strong defense, size inside, and recent penchant for upsets could allow them to keep this one competitive.

While the analytics favor Auburn, March is all about those magical moments when the unexpected becomes reality. If the Wolverines’ towering twosome of Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf can neutralize Auburn’s star Johni Broome, we could be in for a classic March Madness upset.

Michigan vs Auburn Betting Splits

The public is backing Michigan against the spread, with 63% of bets and 63% of the handle taking the Wolverines +8.5. However, the moneyline shows a massive 90% of tickets on Auburn, though those account for only 72% of ML dollars, indicating some heavier wagers on Michigan to pull the upset.

Bettors are hammering the over, placing 78% of bets and 82% of money on the game to surpass 154.5 total points. This confidence in a shootout makes sense given Michigan’s offensive improvement in the tournament and Auburn’s high-powered attack.

While Auburn is clearly the more talented team, Michigan has shown its size, defense and scoring balance can be a recipe for March success. Don’t be shocked if the Wolverines, a popular public underdog, find a way to cover this hefty 8.5-point spread or even spring the outright upset.