Auburn an Underdog for First Time this Season, Visits Alabama
Auburn vs Alabama Preview: Crimson Tide Favored by 3.5 Points
No. 8 Auburn will put its 11-game win streak on the line Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET) when it visits rival Alabama.
Alabama’s climbed to a 3.5-point favorite after opening -2, marking Auburn’s first time this season as an underdog. The Crimson Tide are also -170 on the moneyline, with Auburn priced +142 to win outright. The projected total is 161.5, one of the highest numbers on the slate.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both college basketball teams and assess the odds in our Auburn vs Alabama preview.
Tigers vs Crimson Tide 
Day/Time:
Location: Coleman Coliseum; Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Auburn vs Alabama Betting Trends
The Auburn Tigers are 12-6 ATS, including 2-1 away from home. Auburn has covered in five straight games. At the same time, the Tigers are just 7-11 against the Over/Under. Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide are 7-2 ATS at home and 10-8 overall. The Crimson Tide have gone Over the total in 13 of their 18 NCAA basketball games.
Be sure to remember these trends when assessing the odds in our Auburn vs Alabama preview.
So Far, So Good for Auburn
Auburn has won 11 straight games to improve to 16-2. It’s climbed to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll, its highest NCAAB ranking since the 2021-22 season. The Tigers are also No. 5 in the 2023-24 Kenpom rankings. They’re coming off an 82-59 victory over then-No. 22 Ole Miss on Saturday in which they covered as 12.5-point favorites.
Oddsmakers are understandably bullish on the Tigers, pricing them +360 to reach the Final Four and +1500 to win the national championship. At the moment, only five schools have better NCAA basketball odds. The Tigers are also +130 favorites in the SEC.
Auburn has been favored in every game this season, including by as many as 33.5 points, and have 12 wins ATS. That’s tied for the fourth-most in the country. The Tigers have covered in five straight games and are 9-2 ATS over their last 11. Bettors should keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our Auburn vs Alabama preview.
While the Tigers are 10-0 at home, they’ve also gone 6-2 in neutral or true road games. They’ve outscored their first SEC opponents by an average of 19.2 points and rank fourth in the country in point differential at plus-18.4.
The Tigers are also 21st in scoring, 57th in field goal percentage and 10th in assist rate. Junior forward Johni Broome is Auburn’s top scorer, averaging 15.3 points to go with 8.4 rebounds.
Don’t Count Out the Tide
Alabama’s gotten off to a 12-6 start, including 4-1 in SEC play, but is still looking for its first signature win. Then-No. 6 Tennessee handed Alabama its first conference loss, beating the Crimson Tide 91-71 on Saturday as a 5.5-point favorite.
The Crimson Tide dropped to 0-4 against ranked opponents this season, following losses to No. 2 Purdue, No. 17 Creighton and No. 9 Arizona.
Despite not being ranked, Alabama is seen by oddsmakers as alegitimate NCAA Tournament contender. The Crimson Tide are +700 to make the Final Four and +3000 to win the national title. They’re one of 13 schools with odds of 30/1 or better.
The Crimson Tide are 8-1 at home, with their lone loss coming to Clemson in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Nov. 28. They’re 7-2 ATS in those games. The Crimson Tide also have gone Over the total 13 times — a rate of 72.2% — tied for second-most in the country.
Alabama has been proficient offensively, ranking fourth in the country in scoring at 89.2 points per game, 23rd in shooting efficiency and fifth in 3-point rate. Four NCAAB players are currently scoring in double figures, led by senior guard Mark Sears (19.8). The Crimson Tide also have the 20th-best point differential at plus -14.2.
Handicapping the Game
Alabama has been longing for a marquee win, and this could be its best chance yet. The Crimson Tide have won four of their last six games against Auburn and find themselves in the comforts of home. They’re 11-2 as a favorite this NCAAB season, including 3-0 in SEC play.
While this is somewhat uncharted territory for Auburn, Bruce Pearl’s team has proven over and over that it’s among the most formidable in the country.
For NCAAB picks, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
