Auburn Tigers vs Michigan Wolverines Picks and Predictions March 28th 2025

Top-Seeded Auburn Faces Major Test vs. Surging Michigan

ATLANTA — No. 1 overall seed Auburn returns to Atlanta on Friday night with its eyes on a program-record 31st win and a third Elite Eight berth. Standing in its way is a red-hot Michigan team that’s looking more dangerous by the game as the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament rolls on.

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Auburn’s Depth and Dominance on Display

Auburn (30-5) emerged as the top team in the nation following a strong regular season and Southeastern Conference title, despite a brief stumble entering March Madness. The Tigers have handled business in their opening two games, rolling past Alabama State and outlasting Creighton.

Leading the charge is All-American Johni Broome, whose 18.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game anchor a roster that blends frontcourt strength with perimeter firepower. Auburn’s defense has remained elite, but head coach Bruce Pearl is well aware the stakes are now elevated.

“You feel like you’re playing for a national championship now, four times,” Pearl said. “You don’t feel like that in the first two rounds.”

Auburn freshman Tahaad Pettiford has come alive in the tournament, averaging 19.5 points over the first two games. His emergence adds another layer to a team that also relies on Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly to stretch the floor and provide scoring balance.

Michigan’s Frontcourt a Formidable Matchup

Fifth-seeded Michigan (27-9) isn’t just an underdog — it’s a fully retooled contender under first-year head coach Dusty May. The Wolverines, Big Ten Tournament champions, have caught fire with consecutive wins over UC San Diego and Texas A&M.

Much of that success is thanks to their imposing frontcourt. Vladislav Goldin, a 7-foot anchor who followed May from FAU, is averaging 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. His frontcourt partner, Danny Wolf, a transfer from Yale, adds 13 points and 9.8 boards per game.

Goldin and Wolf have powered Michigan’s inside-out offense and will be key in countering Broome’s interior dominance. Wolf also brings some extra motivation, having helped Yale eliminate Auburn in last year’s tournament.

“I get to go against one of the best centers in the country every day,” Wolf said of Goldin. “It’s not often you get two elite frontcourts going at it this late in the season.”

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Key Matchup: Broome vs. Michigan’s Twin Towers

While Auburn has more scoring depth, the Wolverines boast the kind of length and experience that could pose problems. Both teams excel at rebounding and protecting the paint, making the battle between Broome and Michigan’s twin towers a likely game-changer.

Pearl believes stopping Goldin and Wolf will be critical to Auburn’s success: “Our ability to defend those two is really going to be the difference in the game.”

With both teams playing physical, efficient basketball and riding strong March momentum, Friday night’s showdown in Atlanta has all the ingredients of a tournament classic.

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