Picks, predictions for No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 12 Kentucky

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Picks, predictions for No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 12 Kentucky

Grab the popcorn.

Nathan KingJan 22nd, 2022, 6:30 AM

Grab the popcorn.

In what Bruce Pearl called the "biggest home game since I've been coaching" at Auburn, the No. 2 Tigers (17-1, 6-0 SEC) host No. 12 Kentucky (15-3, 5-1 SEC) in a battle for supremacy atop the conference heading into the second half of SEC play. Auburn students camped out in front of the arena more than 24 hours in advance, and the cheapest seat in the building would run you close to $500.

Winners of 14 straight, Auburn is looking to not only secure a significant grip on first place in the league, but also its first-ever No. 1 ranking in the AP poll Monday with a victory Saturday. The Tigers have won four of the last five games in the series at Auburn Arena.

Kentucky team is getting its act together at the right time, having won eight of its last nine games, including the best shooting performance of John Calipari's tenure in a 107-79 win against Tennessee last weekend, plus a grinded-out victory at Texas A&M, the only other previously undefeated team in the SEC besides Auburn, in its midweek game.

With tipoff set for noon CST on CBS, here's a brief look at picks and predictions for what could very well be the game of the year in the SEC.

CBS SPORTS

David Cobb: Auburn

"The Kentucky offense has enjoyed impressive outings recently, but Auburn's guards should be pesky enough to disrupt the Wildcats' flow. On the interior, Walker Kessler's length should keep Oscar Tshiebwe from dominating. In the end, home court advantage will make the difference in a close Auburn win."

Gary Parrish: Auburn

Matt Norlander: Auburn

Jerry Palm: Auburn

ESPN

ESPN BPI: Auburn 56.7% chance to win

Projected point differential: Auburn -1.9

KenPom: Auburn 77-74

RealTimeRPI: Auburn 87-73

TeamRankings: Auburn 76-73

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER

Bennett Durando: Auburn 79-77

"Coin toss. Auburn needs to shoot better than it did Wednesday. Giving the slight edge to the Tigers based on the hostility of Auburn Arena."

Jeff Sagarin predictor: Auburn 78-76

Bart Torvik predictor: Auburn 78-73

THE ATHLETIC

Eamonn Brennan: Auburn

"For all the challenges Auburn presents, it’s hard to imagine the Wildcats losing anything but a maniacally hard-fought one-possession-ish game — the kind that leaves us begging for a rematch later on a neutral court later in the season ..."

VEGAS INSIDER

Dan Dobish: Auburn 74-69

"This Tigers team is stacked with no one superstar, but a cadre of above-average players who do their job. It makes it very difficult for the opposition to focus on just one or two players. Auburn works well together, and it will get the job done at home yet again Saturday afternoon."

VEGAS ODDS

Carl Taylor: Auburn 81-74

"Bruce Pearl has his team on quite a win streak, are undefeated at home, and have covered the spread in seven straight. Throw in the fact that the home team has won four straight in the head-to-head series, and the play becomes very clear."

AUBURN UNDERCOVER (247SPORTS)

Nathan King: Auburn 75-74

"I think Auburn's guards can match up well defensively with all of Kentucky's talent in the backcourt, so a big matchup for me is the battle under the basket between Oscar Tshiebwe and Walker Kessler. If Kessler gets a couple early blocks, he might be able to keep Tshiebwe from trashing the Tigers' interior all night. If Tshiebwe's confidence is high, though, he could really test Auburn's physicality. There's star power on both sides, and this is the kind of stage Jabari Smith could really shine on. This is easily the toughest home game for Auburn this season. UK is deep and well-coached enough to come away with a big road win, but there's just too much momentum and buildup riding for Auburn right now to blow this in one of the biggest home games in program history."

FINAL TALLY

Auburn picks: 15

Kentucky picks: 0

Average score prediction: Auburn 78-74