Alabama vs Auburn Predictions & Picks (Feb 7)

• The Auburn Tigers are 2.5-point favorites vs the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday
• Auburn just had its four-game win streak snapped
• See below for my Alabama vs Auburn prediction and best bets

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Two teams in the middle of the SEC pack clash Saturday when the Auburn Tigers (14-8, 5-4 SEC) host the Alabama Crimson Tide (15-7, 5-4 SEC.

Both schools currently sit at 5-4 in conference action, just a few games back of the SEC-leading Texas A&M and Florida. The books like the Tigers to prevail at home, picking them as their favorites in the college basketball odds.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4pm ET from Neville Arena in Auburn, AL, with ESPN2 providing the broadcast coverage.

Alabama vs Auburn Odds

Odds as of Feb 7. New customers can claim a FanDuel promo code get a bonus to bet on college basketball.

The Crimson Tide enter as 2.5-point favorites on the spread, and +136 on the moneyline to win outright. Auburn, who has covered just twice in its last six games, is getting -164 odds on the moneyline.

The total checks in at 176.5 points. And that’s where I’m targeting for my Alabama vs Auburn best bet.

Alabama vs Auburn Picks and Prediction

• Over 176.5 points (-110) at FanDuel

Neither of these teams are on the radar in the latest March Madness odds, but both of these teams will likely find their way into the tournament, and they’ll be a scary matchup against whatever opponent stands across them.

That’s because these teams are battle-tested. Alabama ranks first in KenPom’s strength-of-schedule metric, with Auburn right behind in second place.

Alabama has already faced seven ranked teams on its schedule, with four of those teams inside college basketball’s Top 5, while the Tigers have already squared off against eight ranked teams, with four Top 10 opponents on that slate.

The Crimson tide are coming off a 100-97 win over Texas A&M, a big bounce back from their worst loss of the season, a 100-77 drubbing at the hands of the 19th-ranked Florida Gators.

Alabama is one of the more prolific scoring teams in the nation, averaging 91.6 points per game (6th), and their win over the Aggies was the sixth time they’ve touched 100 points in a game this season.

The Crimson Tide love to let it fly from deep, ranking first in attempts and second in makes, drilling 12.6 moneyballs per game. ‘Bama hit 16 3-pointers against A&M, the third straight game they’ve hit at least 14 triples.

Alabama vs Auburn Key Stats

As good as their offense is, Alabama mostly has to try to outscore its problems. They’re last in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 83.1 points per game, which ranks outside the Top 300 in the nation.

That should only help the home-side Tigers, who were limited in a 77-69 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers last time out, ending a four-game win streak.

A team that ranks 56th in scoring at 84.4 points per game, Auburn hasn’t come close to hitting those numbers of late. They’ve crossed the 80-point plateau just once, averaging 76 points per game in their last six.

But the Tigers have also benefitted from something most teams don’t get in the thick of the conference slate: time off. Their last game against Tennessee was on January 31, giving the team a full week of prep to get right against their SEC rival.

Alabama has won four of the last six meetings against Auburn, but they have been a rough bet against the spread, going just 3-6-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

What these schools are more consistent i,n though, is lighting up the scoreboard. Alabama and Auburn have hit the Over in three straight matchups, with one team hitting the 90+ point plateau and the other getting to at least 81 points in four of the last five games.

Don’t be dissuaded by Alabama’s low scoring outputs and four straight Unders prior to their win over the Aggies: the Crimson Tide fared off with Florida, Tennessee and Missouri within that set — all teams that rank Top 6 in the SEC in scoring defense.