An SEC showdown features the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats (17-7) and the No. 13 Auburn Tigers (20-5) squaring off on Saturday evening. Kentucky has completely dominated the series historically against Auburn, owning a 93-22 record, though the Tigers have won five of their last six against the Wildcats at home. Both teams bring potent offenses into this matchup. The Wildcats are second in the conference in scoring offense (88.9) and Auburn is fourth in points per game (83.1).
Tipoff from the Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., is set for 6 p.m. ET. The Tigers are 8.5-point favorites in the latest Kentucky vs. Auburn odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 165. Before making any Auburn vs. Kentucky picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 15 of the 2023-24 season on a 131-88 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,500 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 24-12 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Auburn vs. Kentucky and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Kentucky vs. Auburn:
- Kentucky vs. Auburn spread: Tigers -8.5
- Kentucky vs. Auburn over/under: 165 points
- Kentucky vs. Auburn money line: Tigers -386, Wildcats +304
- UK: Kentucky has hit the game total Over in 22 of its last 32 games
- AUB: Auburn has won 11 of its last 12 games at home
- Kentucky vs. Auburn picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Kentucky can cover
Senior guard Antonio Reeves excels on the perimeter due to his sweet jumper. The Illinois native averages a team-high 19.4 points with 4.3 rebounds per game. He's also shooting 43% from beyond the arc. On Feb. 6, Reeves had 24 points, six rebounds and made six 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Reed Sheppard provides a massive spark off the bench. He has a pure jump shot and has the instincts to be active in passing lanes. The Kentucky native leads the team in assists (4.2) and steals (2.5) and averages 12.4 points per game. In the Feb. 10 game versus Gonzaga, Sheppard totaled 21 points, three assists and two steals. See which team to pick here.
Why Auburn can cover
Junior forward Johni Broome has been a consistent force for Auburn. Broome stands at 6-foot-10, causing havoc around the rim as a scorer and shot-blocker. The Florida native is second in the SEC in rebounds (8.4) and blocks (2.4) with 16.2 points per game. In the Feb. 7 win over Alabama, Broome finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
Junior guard Chad Baker-Mazara (6'7) has outstanding size in the backcourt. Baker-Mazara is at his best when getting downhill but he forces teams to respect his jumper. He is averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. In his last outing, Baker-Mazara notched 10 points, five rebounds and three assists. See which team to pick here.
How to make Auburn vs. Kentucky picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 158 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Kentucky vs. Auburn, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 24-12 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks.
