Auburn travels to Memorial Gymnasium to take on Vanderbilt in an SEC matchup. The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET on February 11. Auburn is 21-2 and first in the SEC, while Vanderbilt is 17-6 and sits eighth in the conference.
The Tigers are coming off their first SEC loss, falling to Florida 90-81. Vanderbilt is 12-1 at home this season and defeated Texas 86-78 in their last game. Auburn won the last meeting on January 31, 81-54.
Auburn Preview – Looking to Bounce Back
Auburn had a 14-game win streak snapped in its loss to Florida. The Tigers struggled defensively, allowing 90 points, their highest total of the season. Johni Broome led the team with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Offensively, Auburn scores 85.0 points per game, ranking in the top 10 nationally. The team shoots 48.5% from the field and 37.1% from three. Miles Kelly has been a key scorer, posting 22 points in the last game.
The Tigers have been one of the most efficient teams in the SEC. They rank in the top 50 in assists per game, averaging 17.3. Auburn also takes care of the ball, committing only 9.3 turnovers per game, one of the best marks in the country.
Defensively, Auburn allows 71.9 points per game. The team has been strong at forcing turnovers, averaging 7.4 steals per game. Auburn has also been dominant on the boards, grabbing 35.8 rebounds per game. They have struggled against physical teams, which was evident in the loss to Florida.
Vanderbilt Preview – Strong at Home
Vanderbilt has won 12 of 13 home games this season. The Commodores have notable home wins over Kentucky, Texas, and Tennessee. In their last game, they came from behind to defeat Texas 86-78.
Jason Edwards leads Vanderbilt in scoring at 17.6 points per game. Against Texas, Tyler Nickel and Edwards each scored 17 points. Jaylen Carey had a breakout game off the bench with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Commodores average 74.1 points per game, but they rely on their defense to stay competitive. They are aggressive on the glass, averaging 32.3 rebounds per game. They also get contributions from their bench, which outscored Texas 26-17 in the last game.
Vanderbilt struggles with efficiency, shooting just 45.2% from the field. The Commodores also have a high turnover rate, giving the ball away 15.3 times per game. If they want to stay close against Auburn, they will need to limit mistakes and find consistent scoring outside of Edwards.
Betting Prediction
Auburn is an 8.5-point favorite with a total set at 156.5. The Tigers have covered the spread in 19 of their last 35 games. Vanderbilt has been strong at home but struggled against Auburn earlier this season.
Auburn has the advantage in scoring, rebounding, and ball security. They also have multiple scoring options, which makes them difficult to defend. Vanderbilt will try to slow the pace, but their turnover issues could hurt them against Auburn’s pressure defense.
The Tigers should bounce back from their loss and control the game offensively. Vanderbilt’s home success makes them a threat, but Auburn’s firepower gives them the edge. The Tigers should cover the spread, and the total is likely to go over with Auburn pushing the pace.
Pick: Auburn -8.5, Over 156.5.
Two bets here. The Tigers and tons of points. Enjoy the game.
