Auburn basketball game tonight: Tigers vs. Morehead State Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel and Live Stream

Auburn basketball is finally postseason eligible after a down year in 2020-21 that saw the Tigers lose more than win with no promise of the playoffs throughout it.

What made it so difficult was that it followed a season in which AU was likely headed towards its third straight postseason under Bruce Pearl.

Now, though, Pearl has the best recruit he has ever had (Jabari Smith), a couple of impact transfers (Zep Jasper, Wendell Green Jr., Walker Kessler), and reliable veterans (Devan Cambridge, Jaylin Williams) that should bring them back to meaningful March contests.

It begins tonight with a mid-major matchup against last season’s Ohio Valley Conference champion, Morehead State.

Let’s take a look at the Auburn basketball betting lines, odds, and TV information while laying a few predictions on the line (all lines courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook):

Morehead State vs. Auburn basketball Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

Auburn: -16 (-110)
Morehead State: +16 (-110)

Moneyline:

Auburn: -1250
Morehead State: +800

Total:

146 (Over -110/Under -110)

Morehead State vs. Auburn Pick and Prediction

Auburn is a young team that proved during their scrimmage this past Friday that this unit hasn’t fully gelled yet. The starting five struggled mightily, going down 9-0 to Division II’s Southern Indiana–Bruce Pearl’s former school with who he won his only National Championship with–before getting a boost from the bench and winning decisively in the final minutes with a 22-0 run following an eight-point deficit at one point in the second half.

Pearl has hinted at mixing around his starting five and integrating bench pieces into the lineup. Jaylin Williams and Dylan Cardwell certainly made cases for more minutes in the frontcourt, and K.D. Johnson could prove to be an invaluable scorer considering his lack of fear in attacking the rim.

The Tigers have talent, but they don’t have the same amount of time spent together as Morehead State does, as Pearl noted:

"[Morehead State head coach] Preston Spradlin has done a tremendous job with this team,” Auburn’s Bruce Pearl said Sunday.  “Seven returning letterwinners. Great guard play. Really well coached and playing pretty well.”"

The Eagles have the experience edge, but they will have to contend with an oversized Tigers frontcourt that swatted the Screaming Eagles’ shot attempts around with worrying frequency. Worrying to the opponent, of course.

The Jungle will be loud on Tuesday night, and that could propel Auburn basketball to pouncing on Morehead State and covering a sizable -16 spread.

A better bet would be the under, though, because AU’s defense should be able to force the Eagles away from the rim. One of the only ways the over hits is if they can hit more than their 2020-21 season average of 35% from beyond the arc.

I wouldn’t bet on that myself.

Pick: UNDER 146 (-110)