30-03-2025
March Madness: Michigan State vs. Auburn odds, picks and predictions
The No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans (30-6) and the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers (31-5) meet at State Farm Arena in Atlanta for an NCAA Tournament South Region Elite 8 game. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET (CBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Michigan State vs. Auburn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll, are back in the Elite 8 for the first time since 2019 when it topped the Kentucky Wildcats 77-71 in OT to advance to the Final 4 for the first time in school history. Auburn is 1-1 SU in 2 previous trips to the Elite 8.
Auburn has set a program record with 31 victories. It went on a 34-8 run in the second half Friday to turn things around against the Michigan Wolverines in a 78-65 win as 9-point favorites as the Under (156) cashed. F Johni Broome was on fire, going for 22 points with 16 rebounds and 2 steals before fouling out.
Auburn has covered in consecutive games, but it is still just 2-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 games, and 4-7 ATS in the past 11 outings. The Under is 4-1 in 5 games in the postseason.
Michigan State is ranked No. 7 in the Coaches Poll. Sparty outlasted the Ole Miss Rebels 73-70 Friday as a 3.5-point favorite as the Under (144.5) hit. G Jase Richardson paced MSU with 20 points and 6 rebounds with 4 triples.
Michigan State appeared to have a cover against Ole Miss, but the Rebels hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for one of the worst bad beats you're ever going to see. The Under is 4-1 in the postseason for Michigan State, and 14-3 in the previous 17 outings.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Michigan State vs. Auburn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:29 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Michigan State +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Auburn -220 (bet $220 to win $100)
: Michigan State +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Auburn -220 (bet $220 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Michigan State +4.5 (-105) | Auburn -4.5 (-115)
: Michigan State +4.5 (-105) | Auburn -4.5 (-115) Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Michigan State vs. Auburn picks and predictions
Prediction
Michigan State 74, Auburn 70
MICHIGAN STATE (+180) is worth a look for the opportunity to nearly double up.
Sparty heads into this one with 11 wins in the past 12 outings since Feb. 15. The lone loss was 77-74 in the Big Ten Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers on March 15.
Auburn did a good job with the comeback against Michigan, but if it falls into a deep hole against Michigan State, the top seed could be in trouble.
MICHIGAN STATE +4.5 (-105) is worth a look if you're a little on the conservative side, and you just can't bring yourself to pick the No. 2 seed straight up.
Sparty has been on fire against the number since Feb. 15, covering the final 7 games of the regular season, while going 10-2 ATS in the previous 12 outings. And that non-cover against Ole Miss was a disgusting bad beat, as Michigan State should have covered then, too.
Auburn has covered in the past 2 games of the NCAA Tournament, but it is still just 2-5 ATS in the past 7 games since March 4.
UNDER 147.5 (-110) is worth a look in this South Region final.
The Under is 4-1 in 5 postseason games for both Auburn and Michigan State. The total has gone low in 14 of the past 17 games for the Spartans, too.
Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting