The SEC Tournament continues on Friday when top-seeded Auburn takes on eighth-seeded Ole Miss. The Tigers, ranked third in the nation, are one of college basketball’s most dominant teams. They’re led by senior Johni Broome, a favorite to win this season’s Wooden Award. The Rebels pulled off an exciting 83-80 victory on Thursday vs. Arkansas. They’ll hope to improve their NCAA Tournament resume with a massive upset victory this afternoon.
Auburn enters this contest as 12.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 154.5 points. Below is my college basketball pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s massive SEC matchup.
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Ole Miss vs. Auburn (1:00 PM EST)
These teams have met twice this season, with both contests ending in an Auburn win. However, the February 12th matchup in Mississippi was a ten-point affair, while the February 26th contest ended in a 30-point Tigers victory. A blowout loss doesn’t mean Ole Miss is a bad squad; that’s just life in the loaded SEC this season. Still, if the Rebels want to make any noise this month, they’ll need to play better against elite programs.
The 27-4 Tigers have lost their last two games, and will take the floor tonight after nearly a week off. As we’ve seen during conference championship week, extended rest for even the best teams can lead to sloppy play. Still, Auburn is truly a juggernaut, ranking second in the nation in adjusted efficiency margin per KenPom. In comparison, Ole Miss ranks 26th.
There is real concern that the Rebels won’t be able to hang with a dangerous Auburn offense. While Broome is the main attraction, the Tigers have several capable scorers that can dominate on any given night. Ole Miss’ defense has allowed at least 80 points in four of its last five outings.
Auburn has virtually no weaknesses; by most advanced metrics, this is the most balanced group in America. However, Ole Miss ranks third in offensive turnover percentage (12.7%) according to KenPom. That level of ball control should limit the amount of potential mistakes, even against a great defense. While the Rebels will need a lot of help to pull off a win, they are talented and disciplined enough to keep things close. Expect the underdogs to make things interesting on Friday.
College Basketball Pick: Ole Miss +12.5 (1 Unit)
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