College Basketball Picks & Predictions: Auburn vs. Alabama (Saturday)
Welcome to another Saturday college basketball slate as we inch closer and closer to March. The resumes are shaping into place and bracketologists everywhere are coming out of the woodwork as the bubble debate begins to heat up while love is in the air. With the Super Bowl gone, it finally feels like basketball season. Many teams are jockeying for conference seeding, and there are some under-the-radar matchups that I highly recommend watching. After starting the year rough, it's been a great last month or so and if you only look at the picks I've given out in this article, it's been nothing but successful. Let's keep that momentum going, shall we? Here’s a look at our top picks and predictions for Saturday’s college basketball game Auburn vs. Alabama.
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Saturday's Best College Basketball Bets: Auburn vs. Alabama
Last Article: 1-2 | Season (Articles): 30-24 | Season (Overall): 111-116-1
Auburn vs. Alabama
Location: Coleman Coliseum | Tuscaloosa, AL
Line: Alabama -1.5 | Total: 172.5
I know every game sometimes feels like "the game of the year" but how many times can you say you've seen a one-possession spread between the one and two seed? We're in for a delightful game at the Coleman Coliseum. Auburn bounced back after a tough defeat to Florida by handling Vanderbilt, while Bama has been on a heater with a seven-game winning streak, finding themselves as a small favorite.
The sweeping presence of Johni Broome has anchored Auburn's game. The Tigers' big man is a force on both ends of the court with an elite block and rebound rate. No player ranks higher in EvanMiya's BPR metric than Broome and between him and Flagg, you have the clear best two players in the sport. Auburn's supporting cast has made it the most efficient offense in the league. They don't turn the ball over, have sharpshooters in Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones, playmaking options with Chad Baker-Mazara, and almost everyone contributes. Dylan Cardwell plays 20 minutes a night and still ranks fifth among EvanMiya's player ranking. This is a good team.
Alabama has also been amazing, but they haven't gotten as much love with the SEC so deep. Mark Sears is an all-conference player that helps their breakneck pace (second-fastest pace of play in DI) and the only offense that ranks higher is Auburn’s. They rebound misses at the 15th highest rate and defend the perimeter at an elite clip, keeping opponents below 30 percent from deep. Grant Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi will have their hands full defending Broome but with their 6-11 frames and Bama's 15th-ranked near-proximity defense, I expect them to be up to the challenge.
A potential X-factor for today's game is going to be Aden Holloway. After transferring over from Auburn, he's been lights out for Bama, averaging 12 points a game but has shot 50 percent from deep in conference play. Even if he and Bama are missing their perimeter looks, their second-chance conversion percentage is 10th best in the nation. They will convert misses and get to the charity stripe plenty in this matchup.
Overall, I just can't expect Auburn to keep winning, and I am leaning on momentum for the Crimson Tide. As noted by EvanMiya, Nate Oats' squad gets up for big games and can play up in class. Their perimeter shooting, pace of play, offensive rebounding, and interior defense are going to be too much for these Tigers to handle.
Prediction: Alabama 90, Auburn 85
Best Bet: Alabama -2.5 (-105 at BetMGM)