The No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers (22-8, 11-6 SEC) battle the Auburn Tigers (19-11, 9-8) Saturday. Tip from Neville Arena is set for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Tennessee vs. Auburn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Tennessee beat Auburn 46-43 at home Feb. 4, failing to cover as a 9.5-point favorite as the Under (133) hit.
The Vols are coming off a 75-57 win over Arkansas Tuesday, covering as 5-point home favorites. They have won and covered their last 2 outings but are just 3-6 against the spread (ATS) over their last 9. Tennessee is 16-14 ATS on the season.
The Tigers lost to Alabama 90-85 in overtime on the road Wednesday, covering as a 9.5-point underdog. They are just 2-5 ATS over their last 7 games, slipping to 14-16 ATS on the season.
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Tennessee at Auburn odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:52 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tennessee +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Auburn -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee +2.5 (-120) | Auburn -2.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Tennessee at Auburn picks and predictions
Prediction
Auburn 65, Tennessee 60
Moneyline
PASS.
Just like it was when Tennessee (+115) visited Kentucky, this feels like a trap line. I would avoid backing the top-15 road underdog despite the plus-money odds.
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Against the spread
BET AUBURN -2.5 (+100).
Auburn is 2-1 ATS against ranked opponents while Tennessee is the conference’s 4th-worst covering team on the road (3-6 ATS).
That road ATS record includes an 0-2 ATS mark as road underdogs. To make matters even worse, they have lost 4 straight road games, failing to cover in all 4 and losing by 3 or more points in 3 of the 4 defeats.
Given the Vols’ struggles on the road, back AUBURN -2.5 (+100).
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 131.5 (-110).
Tennessee is 2-6-1 O/U in its last 9 games while Auburn has gone Under in 4 of its last 6 outings. The two programs are a combined 15-18-1 O/U in conference play this season.
Both teams also hoist up 59 or fewer shots per game — these are not high-tempo sides.
Tennessee’s strength is its defense and it ranks 1st in the nation in opponents’ field goal percentage (35.9%) and 3rd in scoring defense (56.7 points allowed per game).
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