It’s not the gridiron, but the Auburn Tigers (19-10, 9-7 SEC) and #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (25-4, 15-1 SEC) would still love nothing more than to beat the other tonight. Alabama was able to come away with the win in Auburn on February 11.
Auburn raced out to an impressive start this season, but SEC play started taking its toll in late January. Over their past 10 games, the Tigers are only 3-7, completely derailing their 6-1 start in conference play. Still, they’re clinging to an at-large bid in the latest March Madness projections, and a win tonight would lock them in.
Alabama has cruised through the SEC, only suffering one defeat to a conference rival this season. Frankly, they’ve cruised through the season period, a major reason why they’re favored to earn the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They still have work to do though, and clinching an undefeated home record this season should be the goal tonight.
This game is vital for both sides as the postseason approaches. Let’s see who will make a statement tonight when these rivals cross paths again.
Auburn vs. Alabama Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Auburn | +10.0 (-110) | Over 154.0 (-110) | +390 |
| Alabama | -10.0 (-110) | Under 154.0 (-110) | -540 |
Auburn vs. Alabama Match Details
Fixture: Auburn Tigers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 7:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Coleman Coliseum
Tigers vs. Crimson Tide Key Stats
Although Auburn kept the first game close until the end, their offense clearly couldn’t crack Alabama’s defense. There’s no shame in that though, because not many can.
The Crimson Tide ranks fourth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Despite playing at one of the fastest paces in the country, they only give up 69.1 points per game. They hold foes to 27.4% on three-pointers and 37.5% shooting from the field. Both of those marks are top three in the nation.
In that first meeting, Auburn only shot 32.3% as a team, hitting 29.2% of their threes. They at least took advantage of their free throws, converting 22 of 26, which is 84.6%. The Tigers usually struggle to hit threes, with a 30.2% clip from deep this year which ranks 343rd nationally. As a team, they usually shoot 43.2% from the floor.
Defense is also where the Tigers find success this season. Auburn is 15th in the nation, limiting opposing teams to a 39.9% field goal percentage. They’re fifth in three-point defense, only allowing foes to knock down 28.4%.
They successfully stopped Alabama from hitting threes in February, holding the Crimson Tide to 28.6% from distance. However, Alabama scored at will inside the arc, leading to 59.2% shooting that afternoon as a team. Alabama normally shoots 45.2% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc.
Auburn vs. Alabama Betting Prediction
Although both teams are on the faster side tempo-wise, in Alabama’s case extremely so, both defenses are so elite that it doesn’t lead to much scoring. The first game between these teams is a perfect example of that, as the total was set at 156 points, and they combined for fewer than 150, even with Alabama feasting in the paint. Expect the defenses to be just as sharp this time around, even sharper in Auburn’s case, and neither team exceeding 75 tonight. Take the under.
