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Miami vs. Auburn Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Auburn Eyeing Second Straight Trip to NCAA Regionals
Those who tuned into Auburn’s loss in the Southeastern Conference Tournament couldn’t help but wonder if the SEC’s regular-season champions were due for another early exit when the March Madness bracket got underway. Auburn. However, looked every bit the part of a championship contender in the opening-round win.
Miami has displayed the tendency to play up or down to the level of the competition which makes the Hurricanes dangerous in this showdown. It doesn’t hurt that Miami has fifth- and even sixth-year players all over its playing rotation.
Auburn (+1000) is tied for the fourth-best odds to win the national championship. Miami is well back at +12500.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and March Madness Odds for Miami vs. Auburn. We have plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Miami Continues To Shine as Underdog
Considering how well Miami played when listed as the underdog, compared to the Hurricanes’ struggles as a favorite, it is probably a good thing that the Hurricanes headed into the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region even if the win over USC defied the March Madness predictions.
Southern California was a 2½-point favorite but it looked like the Hurricanes would have a rare easy game when the Hurricanes made 8-of-10 shots during a 16-2 run to turn a one-point deficit into a 13-point advantage.
However, USC shot 70% from the field in the second half to take the lead on multiple occasions. The Trojans’ Drew Peterson tied the game on a layup with 14 seconds left. Miami’s Charlie Moore was fouled with three seconds to play to give Miami a 68-66 win.
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE!
10th-seeded @CanesHoops takes down No. 7 USC, 68-66! pic.twitter.com/ibrLyBueAf
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) March 18, 2022
Miami only committed three turnovers in the game to offset the fact that Miami missed 13 of its 14 3-point attempts.
Six of Miami’s last eight games went over the Las Vegas odds total.
Auburn Takes Care of Business in NCAA Opener
The Auburn duo of Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler combined for 33 points for the second game in a row. The results and emotions were slightly different.
Auburn, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, couldn’t wait to get back on the court after its upset loss to Texas A&M in the SEC tournament.
Smith, who is expected to be among the top picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Kessler flirted with the 10th triple-double in the history of the NCAA Division I men’s tournament before ending up 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocked shots as the SEC regular-season champions overwhelmed Jacksonville State after a sluggish start.
Auburn won 80-61 to take its NCAA tournament opener for the 10th straight time although the Tigers did lose in the second round four times in their last nine NCAA tourneys.
Auburn used an 18-0 run to break the game open and outscored Jacksonville State 25-6 in fast-break points to roll as predicted by the March Madness odds.
The highlight in the game was a monster dunk by the 6-foot-10 Smith that led Auburn coach Bruce Pearl to quip after the game, “We have No. 10 and you don’t.”
Auburn was 1-5 in its last six games against the college basketball spreads before Friday’s win.
Miami vs. Auburn Head-to-Head
Auburn and Miami haven’t met since 2001 when Auburn escaped with a 60-58 win as a six-point favorite.
Miami has lost its last two meetings against teams seeded second in the March Madness bracket including a 92-69 loss to Villanova as a four-point underdog in 2016.
The last time Auburn faced a No. 10 seed, the Tigers edged Creighton in 2000 and barely covered as a 2½-point favorite.
Miami vs Auburn Game Information
- Game: Miami (24-10) vs. Auburn (28-5)
- Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
- Day/Time: Sunday, March 20, 7:45 p.m. ET
- Live Stream: TBS.com
- 2022 March Madness bracket
Miami vs Auburn Betting Lines
Miami vs Auburn Prediction
Miami is 7-4 in games decided by three points or less, including a win at Duke during the regular season so the Hurricanes know how to hang around as the underdog.
Miami averages less than 10 turnovers per game so the Hurricanes will make Auburn beat them by executing its half-court offense. Miami does know how to create turnovers as it is among the national leaders in steals per game.
Auburn leads the country in blocked shots per game and is in the top 25 in steals so it will be interesting to see if the Tigers can speed up Miami on offense.
The 7½-point line jumps out. If the line falls to 4 or even 5, perhaps that is enough to pick Auburn to cover.
