Argument for:
Argument against:
Verdict:
Auburn is justifiably the favorite but not as prohibitive a favorite as one might suspect. In particular, I'm interested that they aren't a great free throw shooting team and haven't yet won on the road. Make it a rough, physical game and A&M has a legit shot.
- Auburn is 0-2 on the road and Auburn was never within closer than 5 in either of those games down the stretch.
- They shoot a lower free throw % as a team than A&M
- They haven't beaten a good team since November
- They are as turnover prone as A&M
- A&M is 5-1 in the last six games against Auburn going back to Pearl's first season there
Argument against:
- Auburn is a much better three point shooting team
- Auburn as a whole has more talented players and more depth than A&M
- Auburn has more players who are excellent at creating for themselves and scoring
- All of Auburn's losses are to teams better than A&M
- Auburn has several large bodies to throw at Nebo and Meko
- All of A&M's wins are over teams worse than Auburn
Verdict:
Auburn is justifiably the favorite but not as prohibitive a favorite as one might suspect. In particular, I'm interested that they aren't a great free throw shooting team and haven't yet won on the road. Make it a rough, physical game and A&M has a legit shot.