Ole Miss Rebels vs Auburn Tigers Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

No. 1 Auburn Aims to Stay Perfect in SEC Clash Against No. 23 Ole Miss

Auburn continues to hold firm as the nation’s top-ranked team, but the Tigers will need to be at their best once again when they visit No. 23 Ole Miss in a high-stakes SEC showdown on Saturday. The Rebels already have a top-five win under their belt this season and will look to add another against the conference’s frontrunner.

Auburn’s Dominance Led by Johni Broome

Auburn (19-1, 7-0 SEC) has battled through the best the SEC has to offer, but Bruce Pearl’s squad remains unbeaten in conference play. The Tigers have faced stiff competition over the past two weeks, narrowly edging out then-No. 23 Georgia and then-No. 6 Tennessee.

Auburn’s success largely comes down to the dominance of Johni Broome, who is making a strong case for both SEC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. The senior big man has been Auburn’s leading scorer and rebounder in 13 of the team’s 20 games this season, showcasing his ability to take over games.

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Broome, who transferred from Morehead State two seasons ago, has seen his numbers rise each year. After averaging 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in his first year at Auburn and 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, Broome is now producing at a career-best level:

• 18.2 points per game
• 11.2 rebounds per game (SEC leader)
• 3.0 assists per game
• 2.8 blocks per game

His latest performance, a 26-point, 16-rebound, three-block effort in Auburn’s 87-74 win over LSU on Wednesday, further solidified his dominance.

“I think when everybody was fatigued, Johni’s physicality took over,” Pearl said after the game.

While Broome remains the centerpiece, Auburn’s depth has been critical to its success. Chad Baker-Mazara (12.7 ppg), Tahaad Pettiford (11.7 ppg), Miles Kelly (10.5 ppg), and Denver Jones (10.0 ppg) have provided strong scoring support, making the Tigers a difficult team to slow down.

Ole Miss Looking for Another Upset

Ole Miss (16-5, 5-3 SEC) has already proven it can take down top-ranked teams, earning a 74-64 win at then-No. 4 Alabama on Jan. 14. The Rebels will look to replicate that success against Auburn after snapping a three-game losing streak with a gritty 72-69 victory over Texas on Wednesday.

Senior guard Davon Barnes sealed the win with two clutch free throws in the final seconds, exorcising the demons from a prior loss against Texas A&M, where he missed a critical free throw late.

Head coach Chris Beard was particularly proud of Barnes’ response.

“When you see that as a coach, you’re just really proud of that,” Beard said. “That’s how life works. When things don’t go your way, you can either take your ball, go home and start making excuses or you can get back to the gym and start practicing.”

Sean Pedulla, who leads the Rebels in scoring (14.5 ppg), had 19 points against Texas, while Ole Miss turned the ball over just four times, tying a season-low.

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Key Matchups to Watch

1. Johni Broome vs. Ole Miss’ Defense
   • The Rebels will need a game plan to slow down Broome, who has been nearly unstoppable. If they can force Auburn’s supporting cast to shoulder more of the load, they may have a shot at another upset.
2. Auburn’s Depth vs. Ole Miss’ Perimeter Play
   • The Tigers have multiple double-digit scorers, making them difficult to guard for 40 minutes. Ole Miss will need consistent production from Pedulla, Barnes, and the rest of their backcourt to keep pace.
3. Turnover Battle
   • Auburn’s defense thrives on creating chaos, while Ole Miss showed impressive ball control against Texas. The team that takes care of the basketball will have a significant edge.

What to Expect

Auburn has been tested but remains undefeated in SEC play, and another road challenge awaits in Oxford. Ole Miss has already taken down one top-five team and will be eager to pull off another upset.

Will Auburn’s depth and Broome’s dominance be too much to handle, or can Ole Miss once again play spoiler at home? The Tigers’ perfect conference record will be on the line in a matchup that could shake up the SEC standings.