Point Spread: Hoosiers an Underdog in Matchup With Auburn in Atlanta

Indiana's early December schedule is brutal, but they've handled it well so far with Big Ten wins over Maryland and Michigan. Now comes a tough neutral-site test against Auburn in Atlanta, where the Tigers are a big favorite. Here's the point spread, plus a great breakdown of both teams against the number this year.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Indiana's tough stretch in early December continues on Saturday when the Hoosiers take on Auburn from the SEC in a nationally televised game from the State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.

The game starts at 2 p.m. ET, and is televised on ESPN2. The Tigers are a 6.5-point favorite according to the SISportsbook.com gambling website, and the over/under is 146.5

Indiana is 7-1 overall and off to a great start in this rough four-game stretch to start the month. They've beaten Big Ten foes Maryland and Michigan, and have No. 2 Kansas next Saturday in Bloomington. They were a 6.5-point underdog against Michigan too, and won outright anyway.

Here's all the information on how to watch the Indiana-Auburn showdown, with a great preview of the game from HoosiersNow.com reporter Jack Ankony as well. CLICK HERE

Here's what the Hoosiers have done against the spread so far this season:

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 7-1
• Indiana overall vs. spread: 3-5
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• Indiana home record: 4-0
• Indiana home vs. spread: 1-3
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• Indiana road record: 1-0
• Indiana road vs spread: 1-0
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• Indiana neutral court record: 2-1
• Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-2
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• Indiana record as favorite: 6-0
• Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 2-4
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• Indiana record as underdog: 1-1
• Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 1-1
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• Indiana over total: 4
• Indiana under total: 4

For every game, we'll give you a complete rundown on what both teams have done against the spread. We'll have final scores, what they did versus the spread and what happened with the over/under totals.

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Beat Florida Gulf Coast 69-63 at home as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 142.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 12 — Beat Army 72-64 at home as a 25.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went over the 134.5 total.
• Nov. 16 — Beat Wright State 89-80 at home as a 15.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (169) went far over the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 19 — Lost to No. 5 Connecticut 77-57 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a 12.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 20 — Beat Louisville 74-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York as an 8.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (140) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 26 — Beat Harvard 89-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as an 7.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (165) went far over the 140.5 total.
• Dec. 1 — Beat Maryland 65-53 at home as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (117) went far under the 136.5 total.
• Dec. 5 — Won at Michigan 78-75 as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (153) went over the 144.5 total.

Auburn results vs. spread this season

Auburn is coached by Bruce Pearl and is 5-2 overall, with losses coming to Baylor in the season opener and at Appalachian State last week. They had a five-game winning streak in between, but none of the five opponents are ranked higher than Indiana in the Kenpom.com rankings. 

Here's where those foes are ranked right now.

• SE Louisiana (253) 
• Notre Dame (170) 
• St. Bonaventure (83) 
• Alabama A&M (350) 
• Virginia Tech (67)

Indiana and Auburn have played only once before, and that was on Indiana's run to the 1987 NCAA championship. They beat Auburn 107-90 in the second round of the tourney that year.  

Auburn opened the season ranked No. 15 in the Kenpom.com computer rankings, and now they're at No. 17 as of Friday morning.

The Tigers have been favored in every game this season, but has lost outright twice. They have played three neutral site games, and are 2-1 vs. the spread. Their last five games have all gone under the over/under total. All good facts to know heading into Saturday.

Here's what Auburn has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Lost to No. 20 Baylor 88-82 at Sioux Falls, S.D., as a 2.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (170) went over the 148.5 total.
• Nov. 10 — Beat SE Louisiana 86-71 at home as a 24.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (157) went over the 155.5 total.
• Nov. 16 — Beat Notre Dame 83-59 at Brooklyn, N.Y., as a 14.5-point favorite (covered). The score (142) went under the 144.5 total.
• Nov. 17 — Beat St. Bonaventure 77-60 at Brooklyn, N.Y., as a 9.5-point favorite (covered). The score (137) went under the 144.5 total.
• Nov. 21 — Beat Alabama A&M 84-54 at home as a 32.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went under the 154.5 total.
• Nov. 29 — Beat Virginia Tech 74-57 at home as an 8.5-point favorite (covered). The score (131) went under the 149.5 total.
• Dec. 3 — Lost at Appalachian State 69-64 as a 7.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (133) went under the 142.5 total.

Related stories on Indiana-Auburn

• JOHNSON STATUS UNCERTAIN: Indiana coach Mike Woodson said he doesn’t know if senior point guard Xavier Johnson will play Saturday against Auburn. If Johnson remains out, Gabe Cupps, Trey Galloway and the Hoosiers will have to deal with Auburn’s pressure. CLICK HERE
• PEARL PREVIEWS INDIANA: Heading into Saturday's game against Indiana, here's what Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said about the Hoosiers, as well as a few memories Pearl has of Bob Knight while he was coaching Southern Indiana. CLICK HERE
• AUBURN BREAKDOWN: Following a 2-0 start to Big Ten play, Indiana plays the Auburn Tigers Saturday in Atlanta. Coached by Bruce Pearl, Auburn plays pressure defense, and its offense is led by forward Johni Broome and freshman guard Aden Holloway. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA 2023-24 SCHEDULE: Here is the 2023-24 Indiana basketball schedule with game times and television designations released for all games. We'll update this file throughout the season as well with links to the stories from all of the games played so far. CLICK HERE