Kentucky Wildcats vs Auburn Tigers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/17/2024

Game Time: 6:00 pm ET, Saturday, February 17, 2024

Venue:  Neville Arena, Auburn, AL 

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Kentucky +8.5, Auburn -8.5; Over/Under:  162.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Kentucky +8.5, Auburn -8.5; Over/Under:  162.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Kentucky +8.5, Auburn -8.5; Over/Under:  162.5 points

Kentucky Wildcats:  17-7 (7-4) (5th place, SEC)

Auburn Tigers:  20-5 (9-3) (3rd place, SEC)

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Kentucky Wildcats:  2-3  last 5

Auburn Tigers:  4-1  last 5

Kentucky is entering this game with a 17-7 record overall, a 7-4 record in conference games, and they are 4-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Mississippi Rebels in their last game. Antonio Reeves led the team in points per game in that game with 15 while Reed Sheppard was next on the team with 13. Reed Sheppard led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Antonio Reeves led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 51.9% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 76.5% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 88.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 78.1 PPG against them. Kentucky has an ATS record of 14-10 this season and their O/U record is 18-6.

Auburn is entering this game with a 20-5 record overall, a 9-3 conference record, and they are 13-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the South Carolina Gamecocks in their last game. Jaylin Williams led the team in points in that game with 23 while Johni Broome was next on the team with 21. Dylan Cardwell led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Chad Baker-Mazara led the team in rebounds with 5. They were 61% from the field, 60% from 3-point range, and 89.5% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 83.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 66.9 PPG against them. Auburn has an ATS record of 16-9 this season and their O/U record is 10-15.

The current betting odds have Auburn listed as an 8.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Auburn has looked great in their games this season with their 20-5 record overall which has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country and also ranked inside the top 15. They have looked great in the SEC this season with their 9-3 conference record which has them right near the top and they have also been great on their home court with their 13-0 home record. Meanwhile, Kentucky has also looked good in their games this season with their 17-7 record overall which has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country too. They have struggled more in the SEC with their 7-4 conference record and are also 4-2 in their road games. They have still been really good in the SEC this year and haven't been a bad road team either, but they have also struggled a lot more against stronger opponents and they have been slipping down the rankings in recent weeks due to their performance in those high stakes games. They are coming off a home win against Ole Miss in their last one but they did lose to Gonzaga on their home court right before that when Gonzaga isn't even the strongest team in their conference this year. Auburn has been rolling teams on their home court all season and just beat one of the best teams in the SEC in their last one, beating South Carolina by around 40 points. The best way to place a bet here is on Auburn to cover the spread in this game. 

Kentucky Auburn Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, February 17, 2024 (6:00 pm ET start time) is Auburn 92 Kentucky 73.

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Kentucky Wildcats: 10-23 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders. 1-5 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 16-25 ATS off a home win. 18-6 OVER in all games. 8-3 OVER against conference opponents. 8-2 OVER off a home win.

Auburn Tigers: 16-9 ATS in all games. 29-16 ATS in all home games. 9-3 ATS against conference opponents. 8-2 ATS after a blowout win by 20 points or more. 12-6 OVER after a game where they made 88% of their free throws or better. 

Kentucky Wildcats:  None.

Auburn Tigers:  None.

“I went to a shorter rotation, and I love how we started the game. We were the aggressor. We had to change a little bit of what we were doing, how we were guarding people. And I keep saying we got shot blockers. Don’t give them a jumper, make them beat you on the bounce because we got people back in there.” - John Calipari after his team’s win against Ole Miss in their last game on Tuesday.

“When you get nine 3-balls from your starting frontcourt, it kind of makes everything you might try to do offensively work.” - Bruce Pearl after his team’s win against South Carolina in their last game on Wednesday.

A. Bradshaw 

J. Edwards 

T. Mitchell 

A. Reeves 

D. Wagner

J. Broome 

A. Holloway 

D. Jones 

C. Moore 

J. Williams

PPG: A. Reeves (19.4)

APG: R. Sheppard (4.2)

Reb/G: T. Mitchell (7.5)

PPG: C. Williams (20)

APG: T. Donaldson (3.5)

Reb/G: J. Broome (8.4)

Coaches:

Kentucky Wildcats: John Calipari (15th season)

Auburn Tigers: Bruce Pearl (10th season)