ESPN Predicts Auburn Tigers’ NCAA Tournament Fate
Despite a late-season slump, the Auburn Tigers secured the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee valued their full season’s accomplishments, rewarding them for navigating an especially challenging schedule rather than focusing solely on their recent struggles. Auburn lost three of its last four games after clinching the SEC Championship early, raising concerns about whether they can regain their peak intensity in the tournament.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello’s Predictions
ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello took on the challenge of forecasting every matchup in the NCAA Tournament, including the First Four games. According to his predictions, Auburn will advance through the South Region but ultimately fall to Florida in the Final Four by a narrow margin of 85-82.
Interestingly, Borzello draws a comparison between Auburn and the 2007 Florida Gators. That Florida team also struggled late in the regular season, losing three of its final four games, but went on to dominate the NCAA Tournament and win a second consecutive national championship. However, he notes a key distinction—Florida had the experience of already winning a title, while Auburn and head coach Bruce Pearl are still chasing their first.
Why Florida Over Auburn
Borzello favors Florida in their potential Final Four showdown, citing the Gators’ previous victory over Auburn on the road in early February. He believes Florida has the size to contain Auburn’s star player, Johni Broome, in one-on-one matchups, forcing him to take difficult shots inside. Additionally, Florida has shown versatility in its scoring and has built up depth throughout the season, overcoming injuries that hampered them earlier in conference play.
**Florida’s Road to the Championship
Borzello ultimately predicts Florida will defeat Duke in the national championship game. While Duke boasts an impressive 31-3 record, their ACC Tournament victory over No. 13 Louisville marked their first game against a ranked opponent since early December, when they last faced Auburn. By contrast, Florida is peaking at the right time, making them a serious threat.
Auburn’s First Tournament Matchup
Before any potential Final Four battle, Auburn must first navigate its tournament path. Their journey begins in Lexington at Rupp Arena, where they recently celebrated their SEC Championship. The Tigers will open their NCAA Tournament campaign on Thursday at 1:50 p.m. CT against the winner of the Alabama State vs. Saint Francis play-in game.
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