Tennessee vs Auburn Prediction 3/12/26 College Basketball Picks Today

The Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers meet Thursday in SEC Tournament college basketball action from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Here’s a Tennessee vs. Auburn prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Tennessee vs. Auburn pick.

Auburn Tigers Betting Preview

The Tigers were sitting at 14-7 back on January 28 following a win over Texas. Losses came to Tennessee, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Mississippi State over the next five, then a win over Kentucky. After a 1-3 run to finish off the season featuring losses to Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Alabama, the Tigers were able to take out Mississippi State. That gives Auburn a 17-15 overall run in the books this year.

On Wednesday versus Mississippi State in SEC Tournament action, the Tigers were coming back out onto the floor in the second half with a three-point deficit, 33-30. Auburn woke up in the remainder of the game on a 49-28 run and powered out the victory in the end, 79-61. Kevin Overton was the leading team contributor with his 22 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview

Over on the Tennessee side, they got through 18 games this year with a 12-6 run, then beat Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss before another loss to Kentucky. The Vols would then beat Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt before a 1-3 stretch that featured losses to Missouri, Alabama and Vanderbilt. Over the first 31 games this year, that gives Tennessee a 21-10 overall run.

In the Vanderbilt matchup last weekend, the Volunteers were in trouble at the break, sitting in the locker room with a 32-22 deficit. Tennessee fought back on a 60-54 run the rest of the way but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss on their home court, 86-82, in the end. Tops in scoring was Amari Evans with 24 points and six rebounds with three steals in 32 minutes of work.

Auburn Tigers @ Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends: March 12, 2026

Why the Tennessee Volunteers will win

• Tennessee has won seven of its last eight March games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
• Auburn has lost each of its last three games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Auburn has lost the first half in eight of its last nine games against Conference opponents.

Why the Auburn Tigers will win

• Auburn has won nine of its last 10 day games against Conference opponents at Bridgestone Arena.
• Tennessee has lost five of its last six day games against Conference opponents.
• Auburn has won the first half in four of its last five games against Conference opponents at neutral venues.

Total Points Facts

• Nine of Auburn’s last 10 games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 149+ points.
• Ten of Tennessee’s last 12 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue have produced a total of 145 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Tennessee ranks 4th among Division 1 teams for rebounds per game this season (42.6).
• Tennessee is one of only six teams to reach the Sweet 16 in each of its last three NCAA Tournament appearances.
• Auburn ranks T356th among Division 1 teams for opponent blocks per game this season (4.5).
• Auburn ranks 24th among Division 1 teams for offensive rating this season (120.9).

Tennessee vs Auburn Prediction

I’ll just stay with Tennessee. The Vols are coming off an unfortunate loss at Thompson-Boling Arena versus a very good Vanderbilt team last weekend. In that one, Tennessee didn’t shoot terribly (44.3 percent) from the field and had a 38-31 rebounding edge alongside a 40-30 advantage in the paint. Tennessee gave up 52.9 percent shooting on defense though, and got burned by a 27-of-32 performance (84.4 percent) at the line from the Commodores. The Volunteers are just 1-3 in their last four games and in desperate need of a good showing in this one.

These teams last saw each other on January 31 in a 77-69 home win for the Vols. In that game Tennessee shot a pretty solid 44.4 percent from the field and 80.6 percent (25-of-31) from the line. The Volunteers added a 43-30 rebounding advantage and held the Tigers to just 38.1 percent shooting from the field on defense. The only real gripe to be had was Tennessee’s 15 turnovers. Provided the volunteers can get their ball-handling mistakes under control in this tournament rematch, Tennessee should be okay.