The No. 1 Auburn Tigers (26-2, 14-1 SEC) will try to clinch at least a share of the SEC regular-season title when they face the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats (19-9, 8-7) on Saturday afternoon. Auburn is on a five-game winning streak and has already clinched a double bye in the SEC Tournament following a decisive victory over Ole Miss on Wednesday. Kentucky has won four of its last six games, including a narrow 83-82 triumph at Oklahoma earlier this week. The Wildcats strive to avoid their first home defeat to Auburn since 1988.

Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday at Rupp Arena. Auburn is favored by 4.5 points in the latest Kentucky vs. Auburn betting lines, while the over/under stands at 167.5 points, according to the SportsLine consensus. Before engaging in any Auburn vs. Kentucky bets, consult the college basketball forecasts from the SportsLine model.

The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball matchup 10,000 times. It enters Week 17 of the ongoing 2024-25 season with a 220-160 record (+2005) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023, providing potential substantial returns for followers on sportsbooks and betting apps.

The model has focused on Kentucky vs. Auburn. You can visit SportsLine to see its predictions. Here are several key betting lines for the match:

• Kentucky vs. Auburn Spread: Auburn -4.5
• Kentucky vs. Auburn Over/Under: 166.5 points
• Kentucky vs. Auburn Money line: Auburn -200, Kentucky +165
• Kentucky vs. Auburn Picks: View picks here
• Kentucky vs. Auburn Streaming: FuboTV (Free Trial Available)

Why Kentucky Can Cover

Kentucky’s impressive home record against Auburn includes 20 consecutive wins since 1988, boasting a 51-2 advantage in Lexington overall. The Wildcats lead 6-0 at home against Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl during his decade-long tenure. Currently, Kentucky is 14-2 at Rupp Arena and has secured a seventh place tie in the SEC standings.

Otega Oweh delivered a decisive game-winning shot with just 6.4 seconds left in the previous match against Oklahoma, racking up a career-high 28 points while netting his team’s final 18 points. After missing three games, point guard Lamont Butler scored seven points and provided six assists in only 20 minutes back in action. Jaxson Robinson returned after a four-game absence, contributing 12 points in the first half but was sidelined for the second half due to a recurring wrist injury. Robinson will not participate in this game. For additional insights on team predictions, click here.

Why Auburn Can Cover

This iteration of Auburn is distinct from past teams that have visited Lexington, as the Tigers are on the verge of clinching at least a shared SEC title. Currently, they boast a five-game winning streak alongside an impressive 7-1 record in away games. They are aiming for a school-record 30 victories this season.

National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome leads Auburn’s scoring, averaging 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and blocking 66 shots throughout the season. Chad Baker-Mazara is also a contributor with an average of 12.7 points, leading the team with 33 steals. Recently, Auburn has covered the spread in six out of their last nine matchups whereas Kentucky has only covered once in their last six March appearances. Access further information regarding team picks here.

Making Your Kentucky vs. Auburn Picks

The model has simulated the Auburn vs. Kentucky matchup 10,000 times, providing distinct results. The inclination is towards the Under, as one side of the spread has successfully hit nearly 60% of simulations. To see the expert picks, feel free to visit SportsLine.