Bruce Pearl is seeking his second Final Four at Auburn. Specifically, that’s an achievement once considered an impossible dream. In like manner, Dusty May has transformed the Wolverines program in just one March Madness lines season on the job. Thus, Pearl and May have something in common. Both took over gutted-out basketball programs at powerhouse football schools and turned them into national championship contenders. On Friday, Auburn and Michigan will clash in the Sweet Sixteen in Atlanta. Accordingly, a large contingent of fans will be on hand from the nearby Auburn campus.
2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen Auburn Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines
| Date and Time: | Friday, March 28, 2025, 9:39 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA |
| TV Coverage: | CBS |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | +9 -110 | 153½ -115 | +345 |  |
| Auburn | -9 -110 | 153½ -105 | -425 | |
| ||||
Auburn Tigers Team Overview
Late on, Auburn has covered three of its previous ten games and has gone under the offshore betting total in three of its last four outings. First among Auburn scorers is Johni Broome, with 18.4 points per game.
Overall, the Auburn Tigers are 29-5 straight up, 18-13 against the spread, and 20-11 over/under the total. Auburn has national metrics of 10th for scoring offense, 27th for field goal percentage, 47th for 3-point field goal percentage, 113th for free throw percentage, and 63rd for offensive rebounding. Defensively, Auburn is 101st for scoring defense, 38th for field goal percentage permitted, 7th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 68th for defensive rebounding.
Tahaad Pettiford scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half. At the same time, Johni Broome scored eight and grabbed 12 rebounds to help No. 1 Auburn hold off No. 9 Creighton for an 82-70 second-round win in the South Region at Rupp Arena. As a result, Auburn, the top overall seed in the tournament, advanced to the Sweet 16 and will face No. 5 Michigan. UM was a 91-79 winner over Texas A&M in the regional semifinal.
Auburn overcame the losses of two starters in the second half to injury. Namely, Chad Baker-Mazara limped off after making two free throws with 13:32 left. He returned with a limp and continued to play before leaving with 1:30 remaining. In the same way, starting center Dylan Cardwell went down under the Auburn basket, grabbing his right hamstring with 7:36 left, and did not return. Baker-Mazara had 12 of his 17 points in the second half before his injury.
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 18 points and seven boards. While Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal had 13 points apiece to lead all five starters in double figures for Creighton. The Bluejays’ bench was outscored 31-10 by Auburn reserves.
Michigan Wolverines Team Overview
Late on, Michigan has covered six of its previous ten games and has gone over the NCAA Tournament odds total in three of its last five outings. Vladislav Goldin is the first among Michigan scorers, with 16.8 points per game.
Overall, the Michigan Wolverines are 26-9 straight up, 13-18 against the spread, and 16-15 over/under the total. Michigan has national metrics of 58th for scoring offense, 39th for field goal percentage, 204th for 3-point field goal percentage, 201st for free throw percentage, and 24th for offensive rebounding. Defensively, Michigan is 163rd for scoring defense, 39th for field goal percentage permitted, 83rd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 143rd for defensive rebounding.
Auburn vs. Michigan SBG Free Picks
Certainly, Michigan has had a nice run. But Cinderella will meet at midnight on Friday.
Auburn vs. Michigan SBG Best Bet: Auburn Tigers.