Ole Miss at Auburn – What Rebel Team will Show?

BetOnline NCAAB Betting Odds: AUBURN -6

Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* MISS has covered eight of its last nine games

* MISS has won five of its last seven games SU

* MISS has played its last six games UNDER the total

* MISS has covered five of its last six road games

* MISS has lost eight of its last nine road games SU

* MISS has played six of its last eight road games UNDER the total

* AUB has covered its last five games

* AUB has won four of its last five games SU

* AUB has won 13 of its last 15 home games SU

Also…

* AUB has covered five of the last seven meetings

* Three of the last four meetings have gone OVER the total

* AUB has covered five of the last seven meetings as the home team

* AUB has won eight of the last 11 games SU as the home team

* MISS has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings

Mississippi’s shooting has been up and down this season, but mostly down. That’s what happens when you are lacking in size and largely dependent on one offensive player, in this case David Huertas, the Florida transfer and Puerto Rican native who has had to take the bull by the horns after Chris Warren., who was averaging 19.6 ppg, went down for the season with an injury. Huertas was averaging 20 points a game in the early going, but his average had dipped below that, and not because he is taking less shots. Huertas, who is just 42% for the season, has shot just 32% in the last seven contests, but ironically the Rebels have won five of those seven games, coming up with wins over the likes of Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi State.

That’s because help for Huertas came. The great surprise has been the emergence of a freshman, 6’5" Terrico White, a 6’5" guard who has given this team the boost it needs. When we say "emergence," we really mean it. White scored in single digits in 12 of his last 15 games, but since his playing time was increased, he is tallying over 19 points over his last seven games. White has also been valuable in terms of handling the ball and distributing it, since the Rebs don’t have a pure point guard per se.

It has been a trying time for coach Andy Kennedy, obviously, since he’s been involved in assault charges, lawsuits, countersuits, etc., stemming from an incident in Cincinnati earlier in the season. His team got excellent balance the last time around against Auburn, back on February 4, with five p-layers scoring in double figures, led by Terrico’s 19. Auburn misfired from beyond the arc in that 78-59 loss, hitting just six of 27.

Yes, there is a revenge angle here, and Auburn has rebounded from that loss to win four of its last five. The Tigers are 8-2 ATS at home, may have an edge on defense, and also possess a better inside player in Korvortney Barber, but they don’t hit fromt he free throw line (59.5%), which is going to be critial in this game. With Terrico White having the hot hand right now, taking the points is the wiser play with Ole Miss, the six-point underdog in the BetOnline.com NCAA college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: OLE MISS +6 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)