USC vs Auburn Odds, Picks and Predictions: Can Trojans Keep Pace at Neville Arena?

It’s the Pac-12 against the SEC as the USC Trojans face the Auburn Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Neville Arena for a “national showcase”.

This game figures to draw plenty of viewers and garner intrigue as it features a boatload of talent including three Top-25 freshmen — Aden Holloway from Auburn, and Isaiah Collier and Bronny James on the other side. 

Taking a look at college basketball odds, the Tigers are 8.5-point favorites but I’m taking a closer look at the total with my best bet for this star-studded matchup.

Check out our college basketball picks for USC vs. Auburn on Sunday, December 17 to find out which side of the total I’m on. 

USC vs Auburn best odds

USC vs Auburn picks and predictions

Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers have won two games in a row since a disappointing upset loss to Appalachian State to open December. With a run of five straight home games before league play opens on the road in Fayetteville, they’ll look to strengthen their record with a winning streak. 

Pearl’s squad is averaging a robust 82.3 points per game led by star big man Johni Broome, who is averaging 15.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg while swatting 1.3 blocks. Aden Holloway is the other player averaging double figures (11.7). Outside of those two, it’s been a committee approach as five different players average between 7.1 and 9.6 ppg.

Arguably the most difficult test of this five-game home stretch is on Sunday afternoon against the USC Trojans. It’s been a disappointing start for Andy Enfield’s talented but disjointed group. After dropping two straight and three of their last four, an at-large bid is starting to feel like a pipe dream unless things turn around quickly. 

Now, about that talent. The Trojans feature one of the best backcourts in the nation in senior Boogie Ellis (21.4 ppg) and freshman Isaiah Collier (17 ppg). Kobe Johnson is the third name averaging double figures (12.3) while big men Joshua Morgan and Vincent Iwuchukwu offer plenty of promise but also inconsistent play. 

The biggest name of them all is Bronny James — you might have heard of his father? He returned to the court for the first time in the Trojans' last game, a loss to Long Beach State, playing 16 minutes off the bench but still managing to make the highlight reel with four points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one jaw-dropping block. 

Auburn hasn’t played many capable offenses this season, but it has soared Over the total in the few games that it has. The game against Indiana resulted in 180 total points in a game with a total of 144.5 while the Baylor game saw 170 combined points to cruise Over the 148.5-point total. 

USC brings a potent backcourt duo and ranks 52nd in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency and 108th in adjusted tempo. It should pair with Auburn (17th in adjusted offensive efficiency, 102nd in adjusted tempo) to create a visually appealing game in which both offenses find success. 

The Trojans have been dead set on the Over this season at 7-2 O/U and I’ll bet on another one coming through on Sunday.

My best bet: Over 151 (-110 at bet365)

USC vs Auburn same-game parlay

Over 151

Auburn -8.5

Boogie Ellie to score 15+ points

+355 at DraftKings

The first leg I'll add is Auburn to cover the spread. These two teams are currently on much different trajectories this season as the Tigers are surging after blowing out a good Indiana team in a 104-point effort, whereas USC has dropped two straight and three of its last four.

Enfield is still figuring out how to maximize this roster and this doesn’t project as a great environment to be doing so in his team’s first road game of the season, which happens to be a tough test against a team ranked eighth overall in KenPom. 

The other leg I'll add will be Boogie Ellis to score at least 15 points. He dropped 28 points on Auburn last year while canning nine of his 15 attempts from the field. Regardless of opponent, matchup, or game script, Ellis is a good bet to exceed this number as he’s done so in six of eight games this year and in 14 of his last 17 dating back to last season. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

USC vs Auburn spread and Over/Under analysis

Neither team has a huge discrepancy in their ATS numbers this season as USC is 4-5 ATS while Auburn is 5-4 ATS. 

These teams met a year ago and USC prevailed for a 74-71 win at home behind 28 points from Ellis. Add potential Top-5 NBA Draft pick Isaiah Collier to the fold and it’s easy to see why the Trojans team and the term “talented” are thrown around together pretty often. 

The thing is, the Trojans haven’t shown much outside of those two star guards this season. Auburn has a much deeper roster and is a better team from top to bottom — something that’s been abundantly clear in the season's early goings.

I’m not a huge fan of this spot for USC as this is the first of four straight true road games. Enfield’s squad has yet to play a true road game this season so this is a bit of an unknown, but it’s hard for me to picture things coalescing perfectly as this same roster just lost to mighty Long Beach State. 

USC vs Auburn betting trend to know

USC has gone Over the total in five of its last six games. Find more college basketball betting trends for USC vs. Auburn.

USC vs Auburn game info

USC vs Auburn key injuries

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