Florida vs. Auburn: How to watch, odds, predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Florida heads to No. 20 Auburn Thursday in a highly anticipated SEC matchup. Ahead of the game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2, predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – are rolling in.

How to watch Florida vs. No. 20 Auburn 

Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Auburn (Ala.)

Channel: ESPN2

Vegas Odds

Auburn is a 6.5 point favorite over Florida Thursday, according to the odds at VegasInsider. The total is set at 141.5

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: Auburn

Predicted point differential: 6.9 in favor of Auburn

Win probability for Auburn: 72.8%

Matchup quality: 82.3

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. Here, Auburn is not an overwhelming favorite, but is expected to take down its SEC foe who comes for a visit.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: Auburn wins 76-68

Win probability Auburn: 76%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Auburn is also the projected winner right around the same percentage and point differential as the ESPN BPI.

More on Florida vs. Auburn:

Florida heads into SEC play needing Quad 1 wins to strengthen its resume as SEC play opens with the Tigers.

“We do need a couple of probably Quad 1 wins here over the next couple of months in terms of your resume, give them what they need to see,” head coach Todd Golden said, via Gators Online. “We gotta score the ball better, and we gotta get more guys involved in that as well. … In the SEC, one of the best leagues in America, you’re going to need multiple efforts to win the game. It’s just about finding ways to unlock some guys.”

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, despite coaching his team to a hotter start and top 20 ranking, did not overlook the Gators.“We were picked fifth basically, and Florida was picked between fifth and seventh,” Pearl said, via Auburn Live. “Florida will be a team that will compete for the top five or six spots in the league. It’s an important game.”