ESPN predicts the winner of Alabama vs Auburn basketball rematch

Nate Oats’ Alabama Crimson Tide are seeking a season sweep of the Auburn Tigers in Saturday’s “Iron Bowl of Basketball” rematch at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama (22-8 overall, 12-5 SEC), ranked No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll, had won eight straight games before Tuesday’s 98-88 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. Labaron Philon led the Crimson Tide with 26 points in the loss and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 19.

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Aden Holloway finished with 15 points and Aiden Sherrell added 12 to give Alabama four players in double figures. The Crimson Tide made 16 3-pointers, the 11th consecutive game they made 10 or more from beyond the arc. Alabama suffered its first defeat since a 23-point loss to the Florida Gators on Feb. 1 in Gainesville.

Auburn (16-14, 7-10) is coming off an 88-74 win over the LSU Tigers at Neville Arena on Tuesday. Tahaad Pettiford led the Tigers with 27 points, Kevin Overton added 21, and Keyshawn Hall finished with 17 as Auburn won for just the second time in its last nine games.

Alabama has won two straight against Auburn with both victories coming at Neville Arena: a 96-92 win back on Feb. 7, and a 93-91 victory in overtime to close the regular season last year on March 8. The Tigers won the last matchup in Tuscaloosa, 94-85, on Feb. 15, 2025, when the two rivals were ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

Will Alabama make it three straight wins over Auburn Saturday?

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Will Alabama beat Auburn? ESPN’s prediction

Ahead of Alabama-Auburn, ESPN Analytics has provided its odds for Saturday’s game.

ESPN’s matchup predictor, which offers a prediction model based on its college basketball power index (BPI) and other variables, gives Alabama a 74% chance to win and Auburn a 26% chance.

Alabama is 14th in ESPN’s BPI, up one spot from this time last week. The Tide have an 18.0 overall rating. The metrics give Alabama a 12.3 rating on offense, which is No. 5 nationally, and a 5.6 rating on defense that rates 46th.

Auburn is…

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Publish date : 2026-03-06 16:00:00

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