The Southeastern Conference has long been celebrated for its football excellence. But this college basketball season has also brought the SEC much needed acclaim. Long derided for its lack of appeal with betting lines NCAA Basketball the SEC is getting the love now. Two big reasons why are Kentucky and Auburn. The Kentucky Wildcats are blue blood royalty in the sport. They have long been the kingpins of SEC hoops. The Auburn Tigers are an upstart sensation with an entertaining style of play. Auburn hosts Kentucky in a highly anticipated SEC basketball showdown on Wednesday.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 14, 2018, 9 p.m. Eastern
Location: Auburn Arena, Auburn, Alabama
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
Kentucky +9½ (-110) 156½ (-110)
Auburn -9½ (-110) 156½ (-110)
Wildcats vs. Tigers TV Coverage: ESPN2
The fading Kentucky Wildcats have covered the betting lines NCAA Basketball in just two of their last eight games. Over the total has paid out in four out of the last six games for Kentucky. U of K is now 17-8 straight up and 10-15 against the spread. The lack of a dominant scorer has contributed to the drop in betting value. Head coach John Calipari’s leading scorer, Kevin Knox, is averaging just 15 points per game. Kentucky heads into this game with a three game straight up losing streak. In their last game the Wildcats lost at Texas A&M 85-74.
The Auburn Tigers are 22-3 straight up and 17-6 against the spread. The Tigers are in top form with eight payouts in their last ten games. Head coach Bruce Pearl has built a high scoring and entertaining team to watch. The Tigers rank eighth in the nation for scoring with 85.5 points per game. Auburn is coming off a 78-61 payout at Georgia. The win was an excellent recovery from an 81-80 home loss to Texas A&M. Scoring depth and balance has been a key to Pearl’s success. A total of four Tigers are averaging 11 points per game or better. Guard Bryce Brown leads the team with 16.6 points per tilt. Pearl has orchestrated a phenomenal turnaround at what has been a college basketball coaching graveyard. At Auburn Arena the Tigers have eight payouts in 11 games.
Auburn has had the better sportsbook betting value against Kentucky lately. U of K has failed to get the money in their last three games vs. Aubie. Under the total has paid out in 10 out of the last 12 matchups between Kentucky and Auburn. Auburn upset Kentucky in their last matchup at Auburn Arena 75-70 as 11.5 point dogs. The under has hit in the last five games at Auburn in this series.
Matchup to Watch
This is the biggest basketball game to hit Auburn in memory. The atmosphere at Auburn Arena will be electric. Kentucky is a betting lines NCAA Basketball name brand that has failed to deliver reliable betting value. Auburn has phenomenal betting value at home. They also have a high energy tempo that will feed off the crowd.
Wildcats vs. Tigers NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
Not only is Auburn the better team but they also have the clear intangible advantage. Pearl has done the impossible in making Auburn hoops cool. The Tigers are the pick to get the cash. This will be one of the biggest wins in school history.
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Auburn Tigers
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Tigers 86, Wildcats 78
Check out highlights of Auburn’s win at Georgia.