The Alabama Crimson Tide have had some solid wins lately that has helped them solidify their claim for a spot in the national tournament in March. The Auburn Tigers, meanwhile, have little to be happy about their recent games, as it’s been a while since they last tasted a victory. Alabama is +30,000 to win the national tournament, while Auburn, despite its struggles of late, is +5,000 to be the last team standing.
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Betting Preview for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers College Basketball Game on February 2, 2019
Where: Auburn Arena, Auburn
When: Saturday, February 2, 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (odds) vs. Auburn Tigers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-7 Overall / 4-3 Conference)
Over their last three games, the Crimson Tide has victimized two ranked teams, beating the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels last week at home, 74-53, and the No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 83-79, also in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday. Sandwiched between those two games is a 73-68 loss in Waco to the Baylor Bears during the Big 12-SEC challenge. Against the Bulldogs, Donta Hall stepped up and scattered a game-high 19 points across 23 minutes of action. The Crimson Tide defeated Mississippi State despite a grisly 1-for-15 shooting from deep. However, they made up for it by going 22-for-36 from the free throw line. They had 10 more made free throws and 14 more attempts from the foul line than the Bulldogs. That has been one of the most distinct parts of Alabama basketball this season. The Crimson Tide likes to draw fouls and score cheap baskets from the foul line. Alabama opponents are committing 20.2 fouls per game.
Alabama is 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in seven in-conference game play so far.
Betting on the Auburn Tigers (13-6 Overall / 2-4 Conference)
It’s not good to be an Auburn fan right now. The Tigers have been careening off the road of the SEC with three consecutive losses heading into a showdown with the Missouri Tigers at home on Wednesday. What follows is another home game against the Alabama side that’s increasingly becoming more dangerous. Auburn’s string of losses coincided with the absence of big man Austin Wiley, whose presence down low on both ends of the court is sorely missed by the Tigers. Wiley has already been ruled out for the Missouri game due to a right leg injury, but reportedly has the potential to finally return to action against Alabama. That would be a big plus for the Tigers, as Wiley is Auburn’s leading rebounder (6.1 boards per game) and shot-blocker (1.9 blocks per contest). While Wiley is out, the Tigers have been using Anfernee McLemore as a placeholder in the starting lineup. The junior forward had 10 points and two rebounds to go with a block in the loss to Mississippi State. Even without Wiley, the Tigers can still be tricky to deal with, as they can still generate plenty of points. They are 12th in the nation with 82.8 points per game, and has averaged 80.3 points in their last three outings.
Auburn is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games against the Crimson Tide.
Writer’s Prediction
Auburn wins, 77-73.
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