Who will win Kentucky basketball vs Auburn in SEC game today? Our expert prediction

Posted by author March 1, 2025 Basketball

Kentucky has dominated the all-time series against Auburn, boasting a 98-23 record.
Auburn enters the game with a 26-2 record, with its only two losses coming against top-five teams, Duke and Florida.

LEXINGTON — Despite its sparkling history as the winningest college basketball program ever, Kentucky has had its troubles when facing foes ranked at the top of the polls. In 24 all-time matchups versus the No. 1 team in Associated Press rankings, UK is 8-16. The Wildcats will have their 25th meeting with the AP’s top-ranked squad this afternoon, when they welcome Auburn to Rupp Arena.

But there is good news for Mark Pope‘s group, too.

UK already has beaten five teams ranked among the top 10 this season.

And when Kentucky hosts a No. 1 opponent at Rupp, the home fans, more often than not, leave happy.

Since the arena’s first season in 1976-77, five foes have entered with the No. 1 ranking next to their name.

UK is 3-2 in those matchups.

The rundown:

Dec. 15, 1979 vs. No. 1 Indiana: Kentucky won, 69-58
Feb. 4, 2003 vs. No. 1 Florida: Kentucky won, 70-55
Feb. 10, 2007 vs. No. 1 Florida: Kentucky lost, 64-61
Dec. 1, 2007 vs. No. 1 North Carolina: Kentucky lost, 86-77
Feb. 16, 2019 vs. No. 1 Tennessee: Kentucky won, 86-69

The Wildcats also have history on their side in another way: They’ve toyed with the Tigers over the years, holding a 98-23 advantage in the all-time series, including a 51-2 mark in home contests. UK is 31-2 versus Auburn at Rupp Arena, owning a 20-game winning streak entering today’s tilt.

Here’s what to know about Kentucky’s SEC matchup against Auburn today in Lexington:

The contest between the Wildcats and Tigers will air on ABC. You can stream ABC on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Authenticated subscribers can access ABC via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.

UK and Auburn are slated to tip off at 1 p.m. today.

Oct. 23: exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 123, Kentucky Wesleyan 52
Oct. 29: exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State Mankato 67
Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 103, Wright State 62
Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 97, Lipscomb 68
Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 108, Jackson State 59
Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 87, Western Kentucky 68
Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 105, Georgia State 76
Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge) ∣ SCORE: Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 90, Gonzaga 89 (OT)
Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Colgate 67
Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 93, Louisville 85
Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Ohio State 85, Kentucky 65
Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Brown 54
Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 106, Florida 100
Jan. 7: at Georgia | SCORE: Georgia 82, Kentucky 69
Jan. 11: at Mississippi State | SCORE: Kentucky 95, Mississippi State 90
Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 81, Texas A&M 69
Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Alabama 102, Kentucky 97
Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt | SCORE: Vanderbilt 74, Kentucky 69
Jan. 28: at Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 78, Tennessee 73
Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas | SCORE: Arkansas 89, Kentucky 79
Feb. 4: at Ole Miss | SCORE: Ole Miss 98, Kentucky 84
Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina | SCORE: Kentucky 80, South Carolina 57
Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee | SCORE: Kentucky 75, Tennessee 64
Feb. 15: at Texas | SCORE: Texas 82, Kentucky 78
Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt | SCORE: Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 61
Feb. 22: at Alabama | SCORE: Alabama 96, Kentucky 83
Feb. 26: at Oklahoma | SCORE: Kentucky 83, Oklahoma 82
March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1 p.m., ABC
March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN2
March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN

Record: 19-9 (8-7 SEC)

Auburn 84, Kentucky 80: Topping the Tigers has proven to be a tall task for any team this season. (There’s a reason Auburn is 26-2, after all. And its two losses came against top-five clubs Duke and Florida, respectively.) But the Wildcats have had a knack for playing their best against the best: They have seven wins over top-15 foes this season, with six of those victories at the expense of opponents ranked in the top 10. Yet the Tigers are a different beast altogether, led by fifth-year senior Johni Broome, one of the nation’s top players. Beyond Broome, the Tigers have weapons everywhere offensively, with five more players averaging double-digit points per game for a unit tabbed the most efficient in Division I, per KenPom.com. Don’t give short shrift to Auburn’s defense, either. It leads the country in blocks per game (6.6) and is among the top four in the SEC in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense. It’s that balance that will give the Wildcats headaches today. While UK’s offense is among the most potent in college hoops, its defense is prone to lapses from time to time. Against a team as talented as Auburn, no opponent can afford a letdown at any point and expect to emerge victorious. UK will give the visitors everything they want. But the Tigers simply don’t lose close games: They are 6-0 this season in contests decided by five points or fewer. They’ll be 7-0 once today’s buzzer sounds.

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.