Saturday College Basketball Odds: Tickets On Auburn, Money On Ole Miss

Auburn Tigers guard Allen Flanigan takes a shot against the LSU Tigers
Image Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday college basketball odds are part of a huge sports betting day. Noteworthy matchups drop throughout the day and well into the night.

Among them are an SEC clash and two Big 12 battles: No. 22 Tennessee at No. 18 Kentucky, West Virginia at No. 9 Kansas, and No. 21 Texas at No. 15 Iowa State.

Multiple sportsbook insiders provided insights on opening/current lines and action in the Saturday college basketball odds market. Check back throughout the day for action updates and additional games.

Saturday College Basketball Odds And Betting Action

No. 4 Auburn vs Mississippi

Florida Gators forward Anthony Duruji (left) pressures Auburn Tigers forward Jabari Smith (right) during an SEC game
Image Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA opened Auburn a 7.5-point road chalk and just moved to -7 a few minutes ago. Ticket count is 3/1 Auburn, but money is 2/1 on underdog Ole Miss. The total also ticked down a notch, from 139.5 to 139, though the Over is drawing 87% of tickets/70% of money. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Previous Auburn vs Ole Miss Odds Updates

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Like its SEC brethren LSU, Auburn has been a great bet this season, standing 15-1 SU and 12-4 ATS. Since a Nov. 24 neutral-site loss to UConn, the Tigers have ripped off 12 consecutive wins while going 10-2 ATS, cashing in their last five. At Alabama on Tuesday night, Auburn snagged an 81-77 win as a 3.5-point pup.

Ole Miss (9-6 SU, 7-8 ATS) is having a much more modest season and has lost three of its last four. The Rebels were 5.5-point ‘dogs at Texas A&M on Tuesday and lost 67-51.

Auburn went up as a 9-point chalk at DraftKings on Friday night, quickly dipped to -8, rose to -8.5 this morning, then returned to -8 by lunchtime. Ticket count is 3/1 and money just shy of 2/1 on the Tigers. The total bounced around a bit, from 139.5 to 138.5, then up to 140, and it’s now 139.5. But practically all the tickets and money are on the Over, several hours ahead of this 8:30 p.m. ET contest.

Oregon at No. 5 USC

Jan 13, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Chevez Goodwin (1) and Oregon State Beavers center Roman Silva (12) battle for the ball in the second half at Galen Center. USC defeated OSU 81-71.
Image Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET: The Trojans landed on PointsBet USA’s Saturday college basketball odds board as 6.5-point favorites and haven’t moved. USC is garnering 69% of spread money and 59% of spread handle. Likewise, the total is stable at 141.5, though practically all the tickets and money are on the Over for this 11 p.m. ET tipoff.

Previous Oregon vs USC Odds Updates

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Southern Cal blasted off to a 13-0 SU start this season and was expected to make it 14-0 Tuesday night, giving 6.5 points at Stanford. But the Trojans stumbled in a 75-69 loss. USC (14-1 SU, 8-7 ATS) rebounded Thursday night with an 81-71 win over Oregon State, failing to cover as a 14-point home chalk. The Trojans are 2-5 ATS in their last seven outings.

Oregon (10-6 SU, 5-10 ATS) opened the season No. 13 in the AP poll, but dropped out by Week 3 and has been lousy for point-spread bettors. But the wounded Ducks just might be on the mend, entering this contest on a four-game SU win streak. Oregon went to UCLA as a 9.5-point underdog Thursday and emerged with an 84-81 overtime victory.

USC hasn’t budged off -6.5 in DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds market. That’s despite the Trojans taking 86% of early tickets/72% of early cash for this 11 p.m. ET Pac-12 tipoff. Likewise, the total hasn’t moved off 141.5, though practically all the early tickets and dollars are on the Over.

West Virginia vs No. 9 Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks guard Ochai Agbaji (right) drives against Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks guard Latrell Jossell (left)
Image Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET: Thirty minutes pre-tip, Kansas is an 11.5-point chalk at PointsBet USA, after opening -11.5 and spending a couple hours today at -12. Underdog West Virginia taking the bulk of tickets and money, at 62% and 83 percent, respectively. The total is down to 141 from a 143.5 opener, with 60% of tickets/85% of money on the Under.

Previous West Virginia vs Kansas Odds Updates

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET: Kansas (13-2 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) was sitting at 12-1 SU and was a 7-point favorite at Texas Tech last Saturday, then lost outright 75-67. The Jayhawks rebounded — barely — on Tuesday, edging Iowa State 62-61 but falling well short of cashing as 13.5-point home faves.

West Virginia (13-2 SU, 8-7 ATS) was dealt a New Year’s Day loss at Texas, then bounced back with a couple of Big 12 home wins. Most recently, the Mountaineers went off as 2.5-point favorites Tuesday against Oklahoma State and won 70-60.

Kansas opened -11.5 at DraftKings and initially dipped to -11 Friday night. But the number stretched to -12 this morning for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff. That said, bettors are taking the points with West Virginia, which is landing 63% of spread tickets/65% of spread money. The total dropped from 143.5 to 141, but betting splits weren’t available.

No. 21 Texas vs No. 15 Iowa State

Nov 13, 2021; Spokane, Washington, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Marcus Carr (2) drives the lane against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Rasir Bolton (45) in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga won 86-74. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Image Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA pegged Texas a 2-point favorite at the outset, initially dipped to -1.5 Friday night, and has been at -2.5 since late this morning. Iowa State is drawing 65% of spread bets as a short home ‘dog, while Texas is getting 58% of spread money. The total moved from 121 to 122.5 by midmorning, but is now back to 121. However, almost all the action is on the Over, at 88% of bets/95% of money.

Previous Texas vs Iowa State Odds Updates

UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET: Iowa State turned some heads with a 12-0 SU start, including a blowout win over Iowa as a 5.5-point home underdog. But Big 12 play has proven a bit more difficult for the Cyclones (13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS). Iowa State dropped three of its last four games, though it put up a strong fight Tuesday night at Kansas, falling 62-61 as a 13.5-point pup.

Texas (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) stubbed its toe last Saturday at Oklahoma State, halting a six-game win streak in a 64-51 loss as a 3.5-point road chalk. The Longhorns rebounded at home against Oklahoma on Tuesday, winning 66-52 as 7-point favorites.

Texas is a short road chalk for this 2 p.m. ET start. The Longhorns hit DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds board at -2, shortened to -1 Friday night, then moved out to -2.5 this morning. Iowa State is nabbing 68% of spread tickets, while 52% of spread money is on the Longhorns. Oddsmakers expect this to be a defensive battle, as the total opened at 120.5. From there, it got to 122.5 a couple times, but it’s now 121. Splits weren’t available.

Arkansas vs No. 12 LSU

LSU guard Brandon Murray (0) looks to drive the ball at Florida Gators guard Myreon Jones (0) during a basketball game at Exactech Arena in Gainesville Jan 12, 2022. The Gators dropped their third straight SEC game with this loss to LSU 64-58. Flgai 011122 Gatorsvs Lsu Mbball 17
Image Credit: Myreon Jones-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Louisiana State is scorching hot this season, at 15-1 SU and an extremely respectable 13-3 ATS. The Tigers have more ATS wins than any team in the nation, and their 81.25 spread-covering percentage is fifth in the nation. On Wednesday, LSU was a 3-point ‘dog at Florida and won outright 64-58.

Arkansas (11-5 SU, 7-9 ATS) reached the Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual champion Baylor. After a 9-0 SU start this season, the Razorbacks went on a 1-5 SU and ATS slide. But the Hogs bounced back Wednesday with an emphatic 87-43 blasting of Missouri as 14-point home favorites.

LSU opened -7 on PointsBet USA’s Saturday college basketball odds board, spent a couple hours this morning at -6 and is now -6.5. The Tigers are nabbing 61% of bets/55% of cash on the spread for this 2 p.m. ET tipoff. The total is down to 144.5 from a 146 opener, with 75% of bets/55% of money on the Over.

No. 22 Tennessee vs No. 18 Kentucky

Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (25) during the college basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on December 7, 2021 at Madison Square Garden in New York City,NY.
Image Credit: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET: Kentucky (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) has been a middling team for bettors on the year, though it has been better of late. The Wildcats enter this SEC showdown on a 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS run. On Tuesday, Kentucky took care of Vanderbilt 78-66 laying 7.5 points on the road.

Tennessee (11-4 SU, 9-6 ATS) got out of the gate 9-2 SU (7-4 ATS), then alternated SU wins and losses over its last four. But the Vols coasted Tuesday night against South Carolina, posting a 66-46 win as 15.5-point favorites.

Kentucky dipped from -5.5 to -4.5 Friday night in DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds market, then nudged up to -5 in just the past few minutes for this 1 p.m. ET tipoff. Ticket count is 5/1 and money 3/1-plus on the Wildcats. The total opened at 142.5, made a couple trips to 141.5, and is now 142, with the Over seeing 71% of tickets/61% of money.