SEC rivals Alabama and Auburn will meet for the third time this season, as the Crimson Tide and the Tigers collide in an all-important SEC semifinals showdown this Friday. Read on for a preview of this game below. Register here to wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers College Basketball Game on March 9, 2018
Where: Scottrade Center, Saint Louis
When: Friday, March 9, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (n/a) vs. Auburn Tigers (n/a) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (18-14)
NBA prospect Collin Sexton had quite an SEC Tournament debut, as he dropped 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting during the Crimson Tide’s nail-biting 71-70 win over the Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday. Sexton is unquestionable Alabama’s best player. He entered the tournament averaging 18.3 points per game, and he and the Crimson Tide will face the top-seeded Auburn this Friday. They have beaten Auburn in the first meeting between these two teams, however, even without the help of Sexton, who was out with an abdominal issue during the Crimson Tide’s 76-71 win at home on Jan. 17. In the rematch, though, Sexton introduced himself to Auburn with 25 points, albeit in a 90-71 road loss on Feb. 21. The key for Alabama is its defense. It has to work, which it has been for the most part of this season. Alabama has allowed just 69.7 points per game back in the regular season with opponents shooting just 41.1 percent against them.
Alabama is 5-5 SU in its last 10 games against Auburn.
Betting on the Auburn Tigers (25-6)
Auburn had a bad windup to its regular season, as it lost three of its past five games, but it least it won against the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-70 before the SEC Tournament. The Tigers surely would benefit from a long rest as their game vs. South Carolina happened on Mar. 3, so they will have fresher legs going into their showdown with Alabama. Fresher legs could also translate to a deadlier offense for Auburn, which finished the regular season 10th nationally with 84.0 points per game. Mustapha Heron and Bryce Brown are the top two guys to watch out for the Tigers. Heron is putting up 16.6 points per game, while Brown is making 16.4 per outing. Heron scored five points in the first meeting with Alabama, and was absent with an injury in the rematch. Brown, however, had 12 and 18 in those contests with seven threes.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama upsets Auburn with a 78-76 win.
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