No. 11 Auburn Tigers will look to pick up a win early in the 2024-25 season by defeating the No. 4 Houston Cougars at the Toyota Center on Saturday night.

Auburn earned a 94-43 win over Vermont to officially open the season Wednesday night. Houston won its season opener against Jackson State 97-40 on Monday night.

The Tigers will have another chance to beat the team that eliminated them in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2023. However, head coach Bruce Pearl knows it won’t be easy.

“These teams have been playing the same way for a long time,” Pearl said. “They are tough, physical, with an excellent rebounding team and an excellent defensive team. They win every ball 50-50. They play the right way. They play as a team. There’s a culture there, that’s for sure.

The televised broadcast of the game is available on ESPNU. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT. Rich Hollenburg and Fran Fraschilla will have the call.

The Auburn Sports Network broadcast can be heard locally on 94.3 FM, on affiliate stations throughout the Southeast, or stream anywhere on the Auburn Tigers app or at AuburnTigers.com.

Andy Burcham, Randall Dickey and Brad Law will answer the radio call.

Houston holds a 7-1 all-time lead in the series. The 2023 game in the second round of the NCAA tournament was the most recent meeting. Auburn’s only victory in the series was a 71-69 victory in the 1962 Sugar Bowl tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Auburn is favored to get the win over Auburn according to BetMGM. Here is the spread, money lines and over/under as of Friday morning.

Spread: Houston (-1.5)

Money lines: Houston (-142), Auburn (+120)

Game odds are updated periodically and are subject to change.

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