Vanderbilt at Auburn Betting Pick & Spread

Posted by Michael Hunt on Wednesday,November 2, 2016 10:11, EDT in

Remember when Auburn coach Gus Malzahn was on the hot seat entering this season and after two early losses? Those days are gone as No. 11 Auburn is rolling right now and still has a shot not just at the SEC West title but the College Football Playoff. The Tigers shouldn’t have much trouble Saturday vs. Vandy as big favorites in the college football lines.

Here’s a Closer Look at the Vanderbilt at Auburn Betting Pick, Spread & TV Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 5, Noon ET
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Auburn / Vanderbilt
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Auburn -25.5 (45)

Why Bet on Vanderbilt?

Vandy (4-4) comes off a non-conference 35-17 win over Tennessee State on Oct. 22 so the Commodores are rested. After falling behind by three points late in the first half, the Commodores rattled off three unanswered touchdowns. The Commodores had two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012, against Presbyterian. Vanderbilt’s Ralph Webb rushed for 125 yards and Khari Blasingame ran for 100 and three touchdowns. Kyle Shurmur completed 15 of 23 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown, giving Vanderbilt its fifth homecoming win in the past six years.

The Commodores did not have any turnovers for the third time this season. They are 2-1 in those games. The ‘Dores improved to 6-1 under Derek Mason when they score 30 or more points. Webb needs 230 yards to break Zac Stacy’s school record. Webb leads the league with 1,027 all-purpose yards and has recorded four 100-yard games this season, matching his total from last season. Webb ranks second in the SEC with 106.9 rushing yards per game trailing only Auburn’s Kamryn Pettway

Vandy has one of the SEC’s top linebackers in Zach Cunningham, a Butkus Award semifinalist. Cunningham enters November as the Southeastern Conference leader with 85 total tackles, averaging 10.6 stops per game. He also ranks second in the league with 13.5 tackles for loss.

This is Vandy’s first game vs. Auburn overall since 2012 and trip to The Plains since 2007.

Why Bet on Auburn?

Malzahn’s name is on a list of 18 on the midseason “watch list” for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award as the Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC) will take a five-game winning streak and No. 11 national ranking into their home game against Vanderbilt. With only the Commodores, struggling Georgia and FCS foe Alabama A&M the next three weeks, the Tigers look to be headed for a showdown with No. 1 unbeaten Alabama in an Iron Bowl tilt on Nov. 26.

Auburn come off a 40-29 win at Ole Miss. Auburn finally took the lead, for good, on a 30-yard Daniel Carlson field goal to make it 30-29 with 12:25 left to play. A big Josh Holsey interception — a pick that Malzahn said was the play of the game — set up a 3-yard Kerryon Johnson touchdown, his second of the game, to make it 40-29 with 5:58 left. Pettway had 236 yards rushing on 30 carries, while Auburn QB Sean White passed for 247 yards and ran for 27 more. Ole Miss had 570 yards. Auburn had 554.

Auburn has defeated Ole Miss and Mississippi State on the road for the first time since 2010. Auburn has held five consecutive opponents without a rushing touchdown. The Tigers are now 8-0 all-time when an opposing quarterback has passed for more than 400 yards, which is pretty amazing. Auburn is the only team in the country averaging 300+yards rushing and 200+ yards passing.

The all-time series between Auburn and Vanderbilt has the Commodores with a narrow 21-20- 1 advantage. Auburn leads 8-0 in all games played at home.

My Betting Pick

Home team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.

Give the points, go over the total in NCAA football betting.