Bruce Pearl enters his 11th season as head coach of the Auburn men’s basketball team with high expectations surrounding his team.

Despite the Tigers’ disappointing first-round exit last season, the program had a great year with a 27-8 record and second-place finish in the SEC. Now, heading into the 2024-2025 season, many anticipate the team hitting the ground running.

Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, and Denver Jones are returning starters from last year’s team. However, the transfer portal additions of JP Pegues and Miles Kelly will play a vital role in this team taking the next step to contend in March.

Auburn starts the year ranked 11th in the AP Top 25. The only trail Alabama (No. 4) in the SEC, and sits directly in front of Tennessee (No. 12) and Texas A&M (No. 13). Eight total SEC teams are in the AP’s pre-season poll.

The season tips off Wednesday night when Auburn hosts the Vermont Catamounts at home. The regular season slate features Houston, Iowa State, Duke, and Purdue, among others. Here is a closer look at the Auburn Tigers college basketball futures odds.

Auburn Tigers CBB national championship odds (+3000)

*Odds as of 11/1/24

Editor’s Note: Sports betting isn‘t legal in Alabama yet. If you‘re located within state lines, you’ll see a list of our best daily fantasy sports options below.

Before the year starts, your best odds to bet on the Tigers to win it all are +3000 at BetMGM — where they are the twelfth favorite.

The looming question surrounding this Auburn team will be how they handle top competition. Last year, the team struggled against high-end competition. In Quad 1 games, the team held a 3-7 record.

Editor’s Note: A Quad 1 game is when a team plays against a NET rankings top-30 team at home, top-50 team at a neutral venue, or a top-75 team on the road.

Far too often, the offense relied on Broome to produce and carry the team. When that wasn’t working, issues popped up. This time, the hope is that the basketball will be spread around more, and the perimeter game can be relied on more.

With five Quad 1 games on their out-of-conference schedule alone, the Tigers will be able to prove themselves early this season.

Broome remains the headline piece of the lineup, as his averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds were huge for the Tigers last season. But Furman transfer JP Pegues averaged 18.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on his way to being named to the All-Southern Conference First Team. His veteran experience will be essential as the primary ball handler this year.

Should both stars mesh early and consistently through the 2024-2025 campaign, the Auburn Tigers have the pieces necessary to make a run for the national championship this April.

Auburn Tigers SEC championship odds (+425)

*Odds as of 11/1/24

With odds of +425 at Caesars, that’s the best place to bet on Auburn to win the SEC Championship. It’s important to note that these odds are paid out based on the final regular season standings, not the conference tournament ahead of March Madness.

In 2024, the Tigers were close to notching the regular season crown in the SEC. After going 13-5 in conference play, they ended the year just one game behind Tennessee.

The program has finished first in the standings twice with Bruce Pearl as head coach. This season, they remain one of the top contenders in the conference to sit atop the ranks.

Alabama is the current favorite to win the conference, but last year, they were able to split with the Crimson Tide. So, it should be a fun season ahead for both squads.

With the SEC filled with competition, it can be hard to assess just how good of value betting on Auburn is. But with an early season slate filled with tough competition, the Tigers will quickly establish themselves as a contender or pretender to the sportsbooks.