Best College Basketball Picks Today: Auburn Looks To Create Separation In SEC

The top-ranked Auburn Tigers will continue their special season on Saturday afternoon against Florida, one of the other top teams in the SEC.

The Tigers have won 14 consecutive games but will have a tough test at home against the sixth-ranked Gators.

Meanwhile, No. 24 Michigan hopes to keep the pressure on the top team in the Big Ten, Purdue, when it travels to Bloomington to face the floundering Indiana Hoosiers.

Read below to find our best college basketball picks today for these two ranked matchups!

Odds for today's college basketball games are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Place a $5 bet at FanDuel and Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

No. 6 Florida @ No. 1 Auburn Odds

• Date: Saturday, February 8

• Time: 4:00 pm EST

• Moneyline: Florida +350 | Auburn -465

• Spread: Florida +9.5 (-115) | Auburn -9.5 (-105)

• Total: Over 155.5 (-110) | Under 155.5 (-110)

All odds are available via FanDuel Sportsbook but are subject to change.

PICK: Florida +9.5 (-115) at FanDuel

All odds are available via FanDuel Sportsbook but are subject to change.

Auburn is a juggernaut and will likely win this game; however, the Gators should keep it close due to their dominance on the offensive glass.

While the Tigers do nearly everything at an elite level, they haven’t been dominant on the defensive glass, which could cause problems against this physical Florida frontcourt.

I expect this to be a close game, with the Gators finding just enough second-chance points to keep this one within striking distance.

Florida Prediction

Florida was projected to finish sixth in the SEC before the season but currently sits at No. 6 in the nation. 

The Gators have exceeded expectations that were already reasonably high due to their elite core of Walter Clayton Jr, Alijah Martin, Will Richard, and Alex Condon.

Florida is one of only three teams in the country that rank in the top 10 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiencies; the Gators are also the country’s fourth-best offensive rebounding team (OREB%).

Auburn Prediction

Through the first week of February, Auburn still sits at No. 1 in the AP Poll and in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin. Only one team has beaten the Tigers this season: Duke. 

And that game was in Cameron Indoor, arguably the most hostile environment in college basketball.

Auburn is currently on pace to have one of the most efficient offenses in recent college basketball history behind the dynamic duo of Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara.

No. 24 Michigan @ Indiana Odds

• Date: Saturday, February 8

• Time: 1:00 pm EST

• Moneyline: Michigan -150 | Indiana +125

• Spread: Michigan -2.5 (-120) | Indiana +2.5 (-102)

• Total: Over 153.5 (-110) | Under 153.5 (-110)

All odds are available via FanDuel Sportsbook but are subject to change.

PICK: Indiana +2.5 (-102) at FanDuel

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

If nothing else, the Hoosiers matchup well with Michigan, which also deploys two-big lineups. 

While the Wolverines are much more effective in that strategy, Indiana does have the personnel to deal with the 4-5 ball screens and unique actions that Michigan uses offensively.

Oumar Ballo is a solid rim protector and should be able to force Goldin and Wolf into some tough shots. The Hoosiers can keep this close on their home floor.

Michigan Prediction

After a brief rough stretch, in which the Wolverines went 1-2 and lost on the road to Minnesota and Purdue, they have since rattled off three consecutive wins over Penn State, Oregon, and Rutgers.

However, the Wolverines have not been blowing anybody out, which is largely due to their turnover issues. In fact, they rank 346th in turnovers per game, with nearly 15 per game.

Still, there is no denying this team’s talent, particularly on the offensive end of the floor, where it ranks fifth nationally in effective field goal percentage.

If they ever clean up the turnovers, they could be a dark horse title contender.

Indiana Prediction

If it wasn’t clear already, the Hoosiers are in a free fall. Head coach Mike Woodson won’t be returning next season, and the team is on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Indiana has performed at its best when it deploys Luke Goode in the starting lineup alongside Mgbako and Ballo; however, Woodson seems set on not rolling with that group.

The Hoosiers have dropped six of their past seven games, with an outlier road win against Ohio State, who was without one of its best players, being the sole bright spot in that stretch.

Indiana has dropped two consecutive home games, and it won’t get any easier on Saturday when it hosts Michigan.

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