The Auburn Tigers and Bradley Braves will meet at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico, as part of the Cancun Challenge. It’s one of many strong ncaa basketball games today as part of the infamous Feast Week, where teams travel across the country and abroad for a multi-team event.
These ncaa basketball teams enter in different circumstances, though both have winning records, and neither have been all that tested. Auburn (4-0) has won all of its games on its home court, though has not covered spreads of 19.5 or 24.5. Bradley (3-1) has lost a game at a tough Utah State, though shorthanded due to injuries, and has since lost sixth man Ja’Shon Henry to injury. That’s something to consider when making Auburn vs. Bradley picks. Before we make ours, here’s what you need to know about the game.
Auburn Tigers vs. Bradley Braves Odds
Bradley Braves odds have surely gotten worse due to additions to the college basketball injury report. That will be an important factor when making Auburn vs. Bradley picks. Auburn is favored by 12.5 points with an over/under of 140.5, ncaab odds show. Auburn is heavy moneyline favorites at -750, while Bradley is +525.
Matchup Information
Date: Tuesday, November 22nd
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Venue: Auburn Arena
How to Watch: CBS Sports Network
Auburn Tigers vs. Bradley Braves Betting Preview
Auburn Tigers Betting Preview
Auburn has been one of the better defensive teams this season, Auburn basketball stats show. Granted, that’s against a rather soft schedule. Still, the Tigers rank 41st in holding teams to 58.0 points per game. They limit teams to a 36.3% field goal percentage, which ranks 35th, and a 24.2% 3-point percentage, which ranks 20th.
Though offensively, they are among the worst teams in efficiency. They rank 290th in converting 41.3% of their own field goal attempts and are 349th (out of 352 Division I teams) in making 25% of 3-pointers. Their free throw percentage is 290th at a 64.4% conversion rate. They score 74.5 points per game, with ranks 163rd.
Auburn’s rebounding has been solid, pulling in 40.3 rebounds per game, which ranks 20th. They limit teams to 32.3 per contest, which ranks 228th.
Like many teams, Auburn is still trying to find the right stretch of college basketball players that best suits their needs. There is no shortage of talent, but they lost Jabari Smith, who was the third overall pick in last year’s draft. Wendell Green Jr. is the leading scorer at 14.0 points per game and often has the ball in his hands with 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per contest. He also converts 35.3% of 3-pointers. Forward Johni Broome is averaging 11.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game through three games but missed his last contest and is questionable for Tuesday for undisclosed reasons. Beyond those two, four others average between 7.0 and 8.5 points per game.
While this is the first meeting all-time between the two programs, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has seen the Braves play before when he was a color analyst for ESPN. However, that was under a different coach. This is arguably the toughest test to this point on the Auburn ncaab schedule, as Bradley won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in 2019 and 2020, and was picked second in the league’s preseason rankings ahead of the 2022-23 season. While this game doesn’t count in the college basketball standings, it is important to come NCAA tournament time.
The Tigers are 1-10 against the spread in their last 11 games following a straight-up win. The under is 4-1 in their last five games following a straight-up win and overall. The Tigers are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games against teams with a winning percentage above .600.
Bradley Braves Betting Preview
Bradley has had an above-average offense this season while still sorting itself out defensively. Though the Braves’ playing style under Brian Wardle is similar to that of Auburn: Play tough defense, rebound and get out in transition or protect the ball for a great shot in the halfcourt.
The Braves rank 91st in scoring 79.3 points per game and are converting field goals at a 48.5% rate, ranking 71st in the country. They make 35.7% of 3-pointers, which ranks 125th, though only make 67% of free throw attempts, ranking 241st.
Defensively they allow 66.0 points per game, which ranks 131st nationally. Opponents convert 41.2% of field goal attempts, which ranks 149th, and 33.7% of 3-point attempts, which ranks 216th. Rebounding has been tough while only grabbing 32.0 per contest (230th) and allowing 32.0 per game (212th).
Bradley got bad news when all-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection got hurt in the preseason during a one-on-one drill. Rienk Mast suffered a knee injury and has no timetable for his return. Add on the Henry injury, and the Braves are thin in the frontcourt. This could take a change in Auburn vs. Bradley picks.
Two other starters (not counting Mast), Zek Montgomery and Connor Hickman, missed Saturday’s 73-60 win over Southeast Missouri State with injuries. Their statuses for Mexico are not known.
Henry, who doesn’t have a timetable for his return and did not travel to Mexico, is the Braves’ leading scorer at 13.0 points per game and was second in rebounding with 6.0 rebounds per game while converting 62.1% of field goal attempts.
Versatile and athletic forward Malevy Leons is next at 11.0 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game. He also blocks 2.0 shots per game. He and Ville Tahvanainen are converting 42.9% of 3-pointers. Tahvanainen averages 10.8 points per game. Montgomery is at 10.3 points while Duke Deen and Hickman each average 10.0 points per game.
The under is 5-0 in the last five Bradley games following a win. The Braves are 1-4 against the spread in the last five games following a straight up win. That great defense? They are 8-3 against the under in their last 11 games.
Auburn Tigers vs. Bradley Braves Betting Preview
Those making public betting data available show Auburn getting 53% of the bets against the spread and 58% of bets on the under. Our Auburn vs. Bradley betting picks are Auburn -750, Auburn -12.5 and under 140.5. Though if Montgomery and Hickman are back Bradley +12.5 is in play despite a thin frontcourt.
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