Auburn Tigers vs Tennessee Volunteers Picks and Prediction for Saturday January 31 2026
The Auburn Tigers, currently holding a 14-7 record overall and 5-3 in SEC play, are set to hit the road for a matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. With the Volunteers sporting a 14-6 record and sitting at 4-3 within the conference, this game carries extra weight as both teams aim to climb the SEC ladder. Auburn will be especially motivated, hoping to avoid slipping behind Tennessee in the conference standings. Get involved in the action with our free college basketball picks.
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Auburn vs. Tennessee Game Information
- January 31, 2026
- 8:30pm EST
- Food City Center
- ESPN
Tennessee Form & Recent Results
Tennessee enters Saturday night’s game riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak, having won in three of their last five matchups. Most recently, the Volunteers edged out Georgia in a heart-pounding 86-85 overtime thriller on the road in Athens this past Wednesday. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the charge for Tennessee, delivering an impressive 21 points and dishing out 6 assists. Felix Okpara was a force on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds to help secure the win. As a team, the Volunteers shot a solid 39% from the three-point line, racked up 52 rebounds, and maintained the lead for 42% of the contest, showcasing their ability to compete in high-pressure moments.
Overall this season, Gillespie has been the driving force for Tennessee, leading the squad with an average of 19 points per game. Nate Arment provides strong support as the team’s second-leading scorer, contributing 16.3 points on average, and also leads the Volunteers on the boards by averaging 6.4 rebounds each game. Gillespie not only scores but also facilitates the offense effectively, topping the team with 5.6 assists per game. Over their last five games, Tennessee has been productive offensively, averaging 79.4 points, and they’ve been particularly dominant at home, posting an impressive 10-1 record in their own arena where they average 89.3 points per game. With Auburn coming to town, the Volunteers will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage, aiming for their eleventh win at home while trying to avoid picking up a fourth SEC loss this season. 
Auburn Form & Recent Results
Auburn comes into this game riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, having taken victories in four out of their last five contests. In their recent 88-82 home win over Texas on Wednesday, Keyshawn Hall was exceptional, putting up a game-high 31 points for the Tigers. Supporting him, KeShawn Murphy chipped in with 5 rebounds, while Tahaad Pettiford contributed with 3 assists. Auburn’s offense was firing on all cylinders that evening, shooting an impressive 52% from downtown and maintaining good control of the ball by committing only three turnovers. However, they only managed to hold the lead for about 26% of the game, showing that their ability to make key plays down the stretch was crucial in sealing the win.
Keyshawn Hall has been the driving force offensively for the Tigers, averaging a solid 20.9 points per game. Tahaad Pettiford has also played a significant role, posting an average of 13.4 points to make him the team’s second-leading scorer. Hall has proved to be valuable on the boards as well, leading Auburn with 7.4 rebounds per game, while Pettiford leads the team in assists, averaging 3.1 each time out. Over their last five games, the Tigers have posted an average of 77.4 points, demonstrating their offensive strength, but their defense has struggled on the road, where they've gone 2-3 and allowed opponents to score an average of 83.6 points. As the Tigers look ahead to their upcoming matchup in Knoxville, they’re aiming for their sixth win in SEC play and hoping to avoid what would be their fourth road loss of the season. Their high-octane offense will need to be at its best if they’re going to continue their winning ways away from home.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sean Higgs | +1,840.00 |
| 2 |  Joe Duffy | +1,403.00 |
| 3 |  Ben Burns | +768.00 |
| 4 |  Joseph D'Amico | +497.00 |
| 5 |  Ross Benjamin | +378.00 |
Key Stats
- Auburn Tigers this season: 47% field goal percentage, 37.5 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 4.5 blocks, 8.0 steals per game
- Tennessee Volunteers this season: 48% field goal percentage, 43.0 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 3.6 blocks, 7.8 steals per game
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- TENN -5.5; O/U 149.5
Auburn vs. Tennessee Picks and Prediction
Auburn has been picking up some impressive wins in conference play recently, and they’re hoping to keep that momentum rolling this season. This weekend, they’re heading to Knoxville for a big game against the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee has been especially tough to beat on their home court, where they’ve come out on top in ten out of eleven games. The Volunteers will be aiming to put a stop to Auburn’s red-hot offense and defend their home court in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Final Score Prediction, Tennessee Volunteers win but fail to cover the spread, 78-73.
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