The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Auburn Tigers in Auburn, AL. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Auburn is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -275. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here are my Tennessee vs. Auburn predictions and college basketball picks for January 25, 2025.
Tennessee vs Auburn Prediction
My Pick: Auburn -6.5 (Play to -8)
My Tennessee vs Auburn best bet is on the Tigers spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Tennessee vs Auburn Odds, Spread
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 139.5 -110 / -110 | +225 |
| Auburn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 139.5 -110 / -110 | -275 |
- Tennessee vs Auburn spread: Auburn -6.5
- Tennessee vs Auburn over/under: 139.5 points
- Tennessee vs Auburn moneyline: Auburn -275, Tennessee +225
- Tennessee vs Auburn best bet: Auburn -6.5 (Play to -8)
My Tennessee vs Auburn NCAAB Betting Preview
Tennessee Basketball
The numbers do speak favorably about Tennessee's defense, ranking third in defensive efficiency. Scoring on the Vols' defense is a trying task, as they limit teams to 25% from 3 (the best in the country) and 43% from 2-point range.
The good thing is that a great offense can beat a great defense, so Auburn has the advantage from that angle.
Offensively, the Vols are very Chaz Lanier-relient. In Tennessee's blowout loss in Gainesville to Florida, Lanier shot 3-of-16 from the field and 1-of-9 from downtown. When he isn't connecting on shots from 3, it lifts the contributing scorers, like Jordan Gainey and Igor Milicic Jr. into bigger roles.
This is an issue if Tennessee wants to try to keep pace with Auburn's offense. Lanier scored 17+ points in back-to-back games, so he's back on track ahead of this showdown.
The key to Tennessee's offense is hitting shots from 3, as 42% of its attempts come from downtown. The Vols convert at a 34% clip, but it'll probably need to hit close to 40% to give Auburn a scare.
Another key for Tennessee is ensuring that Auburn gets off just one shot. If Johni Broome is back, Auburn is a terrifying offensive rebounding squad, ranking top-45 in offensive rebounding rate.
And if Broome is out, Dylan Cardwell and Chaney Johnson are built to punish the defender on the glass.
Tennessee's starting center Felix Okpara is perfect to battle the tough Auburn bigs, but Milicic is an offensive first player who's the antithesis of a typical Rick Barnes player.
We'll see if Auburn makes Milicic pay.
Auburn Basketball
Somehow, Auburn just keeps winning games, even with tough circumstances.
No Broome? No problem.
The Tigers are 2-0 without Broome. Plus, Cardwell missed time in the Georgia game — the final five minutes — and Auburn won in Athens. It has a team of destiny feel so far.
I wasn't sure if Auburn could maintain its elite offensive status without Broome, but the early returns suggest it will. The Tigers tallied 1.27 PPP versus Mississippi State and 1.09 against Georgia.
However, there might be more offensive volatility since Auburn no longer has an escape route if Broome is out again. It operates most of its offense by shooting, which could lead to an explosive showing or a lousy one.
The Tigers' offense is the best in the sport, ranking No. 1 in offensive efficiency with top-10 rankings in turnover rate, 2-point field goal percentage and effective field-goal percentage.
Oh yes, the Tigers also shoot 38% from 3.
I don't know what the path to containing Auburn's offense is. The equation is easier if Broome is out since Johnson and Cardwell are more effort-based players than guys who get plays drawn up for.
I'm surprised Auburn is just the 21st-ranked defense in the country. From an eye-test perspective, the lengthy-armed Tigers are one of the more intimidating defensive units in the country. 21st isn't bad by any stretch, but it doesn't accurately represent Auburn's defensive dominance.
We'll see if the surefire All-American — Broome — returns for this one. Bruce Pearl called him a game-time decision. The handicap changes if Broome plays, but the KenPom number of Auburn -8 — compared to the line sitting at -7 — makes me think Broome could be out.
Tennessee vs. Auburn Betting Analysis
I expected the line to be higher than just 6.5 points, so I'm backing Auburn here.
I love this Tigers team, and I wholeheartedly believe this is probably the best team in the country.
I see Tennessee taking an early punch from Auburn and struggling to fight back because of the Tigers' defense.
