Pine MARCH MADNESS: Auburn vs. Houston
Pick #21. Auburn +5.5 (-110) BetMGM
For the most part, Auburn lived up to many of their season averages on Thursday night. They played excellent 3-point defense, forcing a great shooting team in Iowa to convert just 7/27 attempts from downtown.
Birmingham also presented a nice home-court advantage, and the Tigers will be afforded a similar advantage on Saturday night.
Despite prevailing in Round 1, Houstonwill likely be without star player Marcus Sasser after he reinjured his groin injury on Thursday night. The Cougars' offense flows through Sasser, as the AAC Player of the Year averaged 16.7 points and 3.1 assists per game this season.
To add salt to the wound, starting guard Jamal Shead hyperextended his knee on Thursday. Shead is fully expected to play for Houston but certainly won't be at 100%. Shead played an important factor for the Cougars on Thursday, scoring 13 points and adding six assists against Northern Kentucky.
The hobbled Cougars allowed 18 offensive rebounds to the Norse on Thursday night. That is bad news as they are about to face a Tigers team that averages 9.8 offensive boards per game. Auburn forward Johni Broome had four offensive rebounds on Thursday night and should get plenty of opportunities on the glass in this one.
Without a healthy roster, Houston is quite vulnerable. Northern Kentucky missed several open threes late on a Thursday and a better team would have knocked the Cougars out.
That team will be Auburn on Saturday night.
Pick #21. Auburn +5.5 (-110) BetMGM
For the most part, Auburn lived up to many of their season averages on Thursday night. They played excellent 3-point defense, forcing a great shooting team in Iowa to convert just 7/27 attempts from downtown.
Birmingham also presented a nice home-court advantage, and the Tigers will be afforded a similar advantage on Saturday night.
Despite prevailing in Round 1, Houstonwill likely be without star player Marcus Sasser after he reinjured his groin injury on Thursday night. The Cougars' offense flows through Sasser, as the AAC Player of the Year averaged 16.7 points and 3.1 assists per game this season.
To add salt to the wound, starting guard Jamal Shead hyperextended his knee on Thursday. Shead is fully expected to play for Houston but certainly won't be at 100%. Shead played an important factor for the Cougars on Thursday, scoring 13 points and adding six assists against Northern Kentucky.
The hobbled Cougars allowed 18 offensive rebounds to the Norse on Thursday night. That is bad news as they are about to face a Tigers team that averages 9.8 offensive boards per game. Auburn forward Johni Broome had four offensive rebounds on Thursday night and should get plenty of opportunities on the glass in this one.
Without a healthy roster, Houston is quite vulnerable. Northern Kentucky missed several open threes late on a Thursday and a better team would have knocked the Cougars out.
That team will be Auburn on Saturday night.
Let us know by commenting below 👇