No. 16 Auburn returns home to host struggling Vanderbilt: Three thoughts + game notes

AUBURN -- After five days on the road last week and two straight road games, Auburn (16-4, 5-2) returns to Neville Arena on Wednesday night to host Vanderbilt (5-14, 0-6) for an 8 pm CT tipoff. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Auburn is ranked No. 16 in both the Associated Press and ESPN Top 25 Polls. The Tigers are currently in a three-way tie with Tennessee and Kentucky for third place in the latest SEC standings with a 5-2 mark. Alabama leads the league at 6-1, with South Carolina in second at 6-2 after beating Tennessee on the road on Tuesday night. The Vanderbilt game on Wednesday night will be the 50th-consecutive sellout at Neville Arena. The Tigers' sold out streak dates back to January 25, 2020, when the Tigers hosted Iowa State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Vanderbilt leads 90-57 in the all-time series with Auburn. However, the Tigers have won six of the last seven in the series. Auburn is looking for its eighth home-and-home series sweep in in the all-time series with Vanderbilt – its first since 1990. The Tigers also swept home-and-home games against the Commodores in 1932, 1942, 1969, 1977, 1985 and 1986. Bruce Pearl is 14-9 in his head coaching career against Vanderbilt including 6-5 on The Plains. He is 8-2 at home lifetime against the Commodores including 3-1 at Neville Arena. Three thoughts heading into the game, plus game notes...