NCAA Hoops SEC Showdown: Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers

Alabama at Auburn
Time: 8:15 PM ET, Jan 30, 2014
Spread: PICK

Betting odds courtesy of Bovada

The Alabama Crimson Tide were victorious Jan 25 over SEC rival LSU. Alabama won 82-80 behind 21 points from Trevor Releford. The win was big for 9-10 Alabama, as LSU is 12-6 on the season and a superior team. The Crimson Tide nearly knocked off Florida before that, though, losing by just six points to the Gators on Jan 23. Alabama will travel to face Auburn tonight in a contest college basketball oddsmakers are labeling too close to call, with the line set even.

Releford leads the Crimson Tide in scoring with 18.2 points per game. The 6’0″ senior guard has increased his scoring each season at Alabama and he’s nearly hitting a 50/40/90 clip, with the three point percentage .004 shy of 40 percent. That marksmanship and consistency gives Alabama enough to be competitive.

Releford showed just how good he is capable of playing against Mississippi State on Jan 15 when he hit 10-of-13 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, en route to 28 points. The Crimson Tide, however, are just 3-3 when Releford scores more than 20 points. Over his past five contests he is averaging 18 points per game and shooting 51.6 percent from the floor.

Auburn has lost its past six contests and the team hasn’t won since a matchup against FAMU on Jan 4. Over the six game losing streak, the Tigers have lost by an average of 8.3 points per game. The Tigers have two good scoring options and none others, really, with KT Harrell and Chris Denson averaging 19.1 and 18.8 points, respectively. Denson, a 6’2″ senior guard, is also second on the team in assists (2.5 per game).

The Tigers lack size for one, and the team is shooting the ball especially well this season either (44.9 percent as a team). The Crimson Tide should be able to eek out a road win over this struggling Auburn team.