LSU Is a 5.5-Point Underdogs at Auburn For Top Spot in SEC After Disappointing Loss to Vanderbilt

• LSU’s 10-game winning streak ended with a loss at Vanderbilt, which had lost 28 straight SEC games
• Auburn has won five consecutive games since suffering back-to-back losses to Alabama and Florida
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

No. 18 LSU (17-5 overall, 4-2 road) is a 5.5-point road underdog in its game against No. 11 Auburn (20-2, 12-0 home) at 12 PM ET Saturday (Feb. 8) at Auburn Arena. Top spot in the SEC will be on the line.

#18 LSU vs #13 Auburn Odds

At 8-1 in conference play, LSU holds a one-game lead over Auburn and Kentucky – both 7-2 – for first place.

However, LSU is coming off a shocking 99-90 road loss to Vanderbilt on Wednesday that snapped the Tigers’ 10-game winning streak. LSU had also won 13 straight regular-season SEC games and 12 conference road games in a row.

Conversely, Vanderbilt had a 28-game losing streak in SEC play that dated to March 3, 2018. LSU allowed the Commodores to score 52 points in the first half, even though Vanderbilt had finished with less 50 points in two games this season.

Eaux yes we did.#MemorialMagic | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Pv6gpPfQjO

— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) February 6, 2020

Auburn is on a five-game winning streak since suffering both of its losses this season in back-to-back road games against Alabama and Florida. The Tigers have also won 15 home games in a row, dating to last season.

Auburn opened as a 4.5-point favorite and it was quickly bet up as can be seen in the LSU vs Auburn odds.

Doughty, Mays Light it Up

The game will feature two of the top scoring guards in the SEC in Auburn’s Samir Doughty and LSU’s Skylar Mays, both seniors.

Doughty is averaging 15.5 points a game and had 23 in each of the last two games against Kentucky and Arkansas. He hit two free throws in the final seconds of overtime to help Auburn rally for a 79-76 road victory over the Razorbacks on Feb. 4.

Huge win for @AuburnMbb over Kentucky. Samir Doughty left NO DOUBT. Tough defense all night! (PS: sorry for the yelling it was SO loud🤷🏼‍♀️😊) pic.twitter.com/eZmYAtuc13

— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) February 2, 2020

Mays has a 15.3 scoring average. He is also shooting 34.6% on 3-pointers and 84.2% from the foul line, though he has connected on just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc in the last four games.

Deep Rosters on Both Sides

Both teams have enviable depth.

Mays leads five LSU players who are scoring in double figures. The others are sophomore forward Emmitt Williams (14.2), freshman forward Trendon Watford (14.0), sophomore guard Javonte Smart (12.3) and sophomore forward Darius Days (11.4).

Skylar Mays (@skylarmays4) is one of the 10 remaining candidates for the Jerry West Award as one of the nation's top shooting guards.

📄 https://t.co/JqWjIh2L0h pic.twitter.com/Le01P9aVTZ

— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) February 4, 2020

Watford had 26 points against Vanderbilt and Williams finished with 24.

Auburn has nine players averaging at least 10.3 minutes a game. Joining Doughty as double-digit scorers are freshmen forward Isaac Okoro (13.0) and senior guard J’Von McCormick (11.0).

So-So Against the Spread

Both sides have just been breakeven propositions against the spread this season. Auburn is 11-11 and LSU is 10-11-1.

Though LSU has covered just twice in their last nine games, they are 3-0 ATS as a road underdog this season. Auburn has been a winner in its last two games against the spread after being the wrong side in four of its previous five outings.

LSU won the teams’ only meeting last season, 83-78 at home as a 2.5-point favorite behind Mays’ 20 points. However, Auburn had won the previous three meetings.

The biggest gap between the teams appears to be Auburn’s offense against LSU’s defense. Auburn is averaging 79 points a game, which is 20th in the nation. LSU is 229th in scoring defense at 71 points a game.

Here is a look at where the teams rank in some key KenPom.com statistics:

LSU vs Auburn Head-to-Head

LSU figures to be smarting after getting embarrassed in Nashville earlier this week and you can be sure the Tigers got coach Will Wade’s attention in practice the last few days. Nevertheless, Auburn continues to be taken somewhat lightly by many analysts. However, the Tigers already have 20 wins and have been unbeatable at home.

Auburn finally seemed to gain some respect last week after beating visiting Kentucky and the Tigers will add to their resume with another quality win over LSU.

The pick: Auburn -5.5 (-115)