Colgate going from Hartford, Connecticut to Binghamton, New York — with a trip to the Plains to take on a No. 15-ranked Auburn basketball in between — might constitute the greatest contest-to-contest game plan switch-up that has ever existed in Division I college basketball.
The Raiders come to the Neville Arena on Friday, December 2 with a winning record but truly only one quality win on their resume — that being their 12-point win over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, their second consecutive victory over the Orange.
While Colgate is the new king of Central New York due to that fact, several of their losses reveal a team that could be in over their heads as they take to the Plains to take on an undefeated Auburn basketball team that just came back late to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Saint Louis Billikens.
While many see that near-loss this past Sunday as a bad thing, it could very well serve as a major hurdle cleared for a unit that is integrating critical pieces in the frontcourt (Johni Broome, Yohan Traore) and the wing (Chance Westry, Tre Donaldson). A bonding experience, if you will.
With a decent-sized spread, AU has high expectations against the Patriot League’s No. 5 team at the moment. Will the Tigers wipe the floor with the Raiders or will Colgate keep things close? Fly War Eagle has your odds and a prediction for the ESPN+-televised matchup (All lines courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook):
Colgate vs. Auburn basketball Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
Auburn: -13 (-115)
Colgate: +13 (-105)
Moneyline:
Auburn: -1215
Colgate: +710
Total: 145.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
Colgate vs. Auburn Prediction
Auburn basketball had a few close calls during Feast Week, but tonight feels like a good time for Bruce Pearl’s squad to make an emphatic statement on their home floor as conference play approaches in late December.
Colgate has kept things close with several mid-level opponents, but AU is a different level of athlete for the Raiders. Lay the 13.
Prediction: Auburn -13 (-115)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.