Auburn vs Jacksonville State Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round

Auburn vs Jacksonville State prediction, NCAA Tournament First Round game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Friday

Auburn vs Jacksonville State: NCAA Tournament First Round prediction and college basketball game preview.


Auburn vs Jacksonville State Game Preview, NCAA Tournament First Round How To Watch

Date: Friday, March 18
Game Time: 12:40 pm
Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
How To Watch: truTV
Records: Auburn (2 seed, 27-5)
Jacksonville State (15 seed, 21-10)
Region: Midwest

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NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

Auburn Tigers vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks: March Madness First Round live stream, start time, odds

The No. 2 seed Auburn Tigers (27-5) and the No. 15 seed Jacksonville State Gamecocks (21-10) will meet in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 12:40 PM. In its previous game, Auburn fell at home to Texas A&M 67-62, with Jabari Smith …

The No. 2 seed Auburn Tigers (27-5) and the No. 15 seed Jacksonville State Gamecocks (21-10) will meet in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 12:40 PM.

In its previous game, Auburn fell at home to Texas A&M 67-62, with Jabari Smith (17 PTS, 9 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 31.3 FG%, 3-10 from 3PT) and Walker Kessler (16 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL, 4 BLK, 75.0 FG%) leading the way.

Jacksonville State lost to Jacksonville 54-51 at home last time out, and were led by Kayne Henry
(14 PTS, 3 STL, 40.0 FG%, 2-9 from 3PT) and Darian Adams
(10 PTS, 30.0 FG%, 2-7 from 3PT).

Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s college basketball action.

Auburn Tigers vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks

  • Game Day: Friday, March 18, 2022
  • Game Time: 12:40 PM ET
  • Live Stream: Hulu (Watch March Madness on Hulu!)

NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 3:04 PM ET.

  • Spread: Auburn -15.5
  • Total: 138.5

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A look at one experts pick for the Auburn-Jacksonville St matchup

Jay Bilas predicts the Auburn-Jacksonville St matchup.

For the 13th time in the series history, the Auburn Tigers will face off with an in-state foe, Jacksonville State in the round of 64.

War Eagle will be heavily favored in the No. 2/No. 15 matchup in the opening round. The team has to hope they are playing more at the early season level than what we have seen in the last nine games. In that stretch, Auburn is 5-4 with disappointing losses to Florida and Texas A&M.

However, we are wiping the slate clean for this game. How the team got here is irrelevant, they have to go on a run over the next six games to secure the title. Fortunately enough, Bruce Pearl has two of the 15 players in the NCAA Tournament on his team.

Jabari Smith ranks as the No. 5 overall player in the tournament.

Well over 40% of Smith’s shot attempts are of the 2-point jumper variety, and he’s connecting on 38% of those tries. While that’s a pretty good hit rate at his volume in that category, it does bring his 2-point shooting overall down to 44%. Pay no mind. The NBA will clean that up soon enough, and we’re speaking of a prolific scorer who’s also shooting 43% from beyond the arc as a 6-10 18-year-old. Believe the hype. Better yet, add 10 or 20% more.

The team also has the No. 14 overall player in Walker Kessler. The rim protector is going to be key in advancing throughout the tournament as Auburn looks for a return to the Final Four.

In addition to posting the nation’s highest block percentage, Kessler alters shots he doesn’t swat away and prevents tries he doesn’t get to see attempted. Most of all, the sophomore does all of the above while staying on the floor. Kessler’s averaging 26 minutes per contest and has fouled out once since the beginning of February. He’s also capable of truly amazing all-around games. His 12 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocks against Texas A&M during the regular season marked his second triple-double of the year.

College basketball analyst Jay Bilas (subscription required)recently predicted all 32 matchups for the opening round of March Madness.

Next, we look at how Bilas predicts the opening round matchup

Former Clemson QB pulls off miracle in Tallahassee

A former Clemson quarterback helped pull off a miracle comeback win in Tallahassee on Saturday night. Down by three points to Florida State with six seconds left, former Tiger and current Jacksonville State quarterback Zerrick Cooper heaved a deep …

A former Clemson quarterback helped pull off a miracle comeback win in Tallahassee on Saturday night.

Down by three points to Florida State with six seconds left, former Tiger and current Jacksonville State quarterback Zerrick Cooper heaved a deep pass downfield to wide receiver Damond Philyaw-Johnson, who evaded two defenders en route to a 59-yard touchdown that gave the Gamecocks a 20-17 win as time expired.

Jacksonville State was down 17-7 with 4:20 left in the third quarter.

Cooper finished the game 17-of-38 passing for 242 yards and two touchdown passes while also rushing for 31 yards on 17 carries.

Watch: Florida State stunned by Jacksonville State

How do you let this happen!?!?

It’s tough to lose more of a heartbreaker than Florida State lost last week in their 2021 opener to Notre Dame as the Seminoles came all the way back from 18 down in the fourth quarter, only to fall in overtime, 41-38.

Florida State trumped that loss in terms of painfulness in Week 2 as Jacksonville State pulled off a miracle.

Florida State had Jacksonville State down 17-7 entering the fourth quarter and 17-14 with just one second remaining when the Gamecocks were backed up to their own 41-yard line.

That’s when the prayers were answered for Jacksonville State as quarterback Zerrick Cooper connected with Damond Philyaw-Johnson for 59 yards and a Jacksonville State walk-off winner.

It wasn’t a Hail Mary, it was a receiver running a deep route and Florida State’s defensive backs looking lost.  See for yourself:

Not only does Florida State fall to 0-2 with the loss but they have suffered perhaps the two most heartbreaking loses of any team in the country so far this season.

Related:

Best photos from Notre Dame-Florida State thriller

 

Alabama Baseball: Balanced Offense Lifts Tide Past Jacksonville State

The Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) stays unbeaten after a quick trip to northeast Alabama. Peyton Wilson’s leadoff home run set the tone early, as the Tide defeated Jacksonville State, 5-2 on Tuesday. Jacksonville State answered Alabama’s early punch by …

The Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) stays unbeaten after a quick trip to northeast Alabama. Peyton Wilson’s leadoff home run set the tone early, as the Tide defeated Jacksonville State, 5-2 on Tuesday.

Jacksonville State answered Alabama’s early punch by scoring a run in the bottom of the 2nd, tying the game at 1-1. The game would remain deadlocked until the 5th inning when Sam Praytor knocked a two-run home run to return the lead to Bama, 3-1.

After a solo home run by the Gamecocks, Alabama sealed the deal in the 7th inning on a two-run double by William Hamiter, giving Alabama the 5-2 win.

Alabama moves to 4-0 and has won 18-straight games in the month of February. Crimson Tide hitters have also hit two or more home runs in every game this season.

Next up for Alabama is a mid-week date with UT-Martin. The Skyhawks visit Tuscaloosa for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. SEC Network + will carry the game, with Eli Gold and Lance Cormier on the call. You can also listen to Chris Stewart and Roger Hoover’s call on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Roll Tide Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

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Former Alabama LB Markail Benton transfers to in-state program

Former Alabama linebacker Markail Benton has transferred to an in-state program, Jacksonville State University.

Former Alabama linebacker Markail Benton has transferred to an in-state program, according to reports. According to the report by AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, Benton reportedly joined the team at Jacksonville State.

In June, Benton entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Benton came to Tuscaloosa as a four-star recruit but was suspended from the team earlier this year.

According to 247Sports, Benton was a top-100 recruit, the No. 4 prospect in Alabama and the No. 7 outside linebacker in the 2017 recruiting class.

Last season, Benton played in nine games and recorded 19 tackles (1 tackle for loss) and 1 pass breakup.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he appeared in all 14 games. In his career, Benton has 33 tackles.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest!

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