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Posted at 2:45 PM EST.

Auburn Arena, Auburn, AL

Streaming: SEC Network

UCF +10½ over Auburn

8:00 PM EST. Auburn is ranked #21st in the country and they’re coming off a blowout victory over Auburn five days ago on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The Tigers finished 5th in that Battle 4 Atlantis event and this is their first game back since. We don’t know what the Tigers did when they weren’t playing basketball on an island in the sun but chances are they were enjoying themselves. Auburn also lost to UConn in double OT but it is its last game along with its 21st place ranking that stands out. They are also 2-0 against the spread at home. Don’t get us wrong, as Auburn is a decent team but we’re suggesting they are ranked higher than they should be and even if they’re not, they’re overpriced here or it may be a case of the Knights being grossly underpriced.

Rarely do we invest in a team that we give no chance of winning outright. The number here says UCF’s chances aren’t good but we disagree. Quietly, the Knights are 4-1 with their only loss being by three points against Oklahoma, who is near pick-em tonight against the 6-0 and #12th ranked Gators.

The Knights went just 11-12 last year but finished 7-3 with a pair of under-the-radar, one-point losses to Wichita State and Cincinnati. Their other loss came by eight points in the AAC Tournament to Memphis in a game UCF actually led with seven minutes remaining. There were initial thoughts that UCF would lose most of its primary contributors to the NBA. However, all three key players decided to return; Fifth-year senior point guard Darius Perry (former Louisville transfer), C.J. Walker (former 5-star recruit and Oregon transfer) and Isaiah Adams (former 4-star recruit who shined as a freshman last year). The entire band basically comes back for head coach Johnny Dawkins, who will have the luxury of returning over 95% of his minutes from last year. Ultimately, it makes sense that UCF improved late in the year due to some of the key injuries it suffered early on. The Knights also heavily leaned on a number of underclassmen, who should see rises in efficiency this season. This is a loaded roster being offered way too many points.

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