The set-up: Clearly with a spread like this, the oddsmakers are expecting a very tight game. And while I don't think the outright win is out of the question, in a contest which I envision coming down to whichever of these hungry sides has its hands on the ball last, I'm grabbing the points. The Tigers are on a roll right now and the momentum they've created is very real. And at this time of year in sports, "momentum" can ver a very real and even tangible factor. After winning the SEC tournament, the Tigers have won four straight, most recently destroying Kansas 89-75, before then dismantling the No. 1 seed Tar Heels. Kentucky was rolling along until a tougher than expected 62-58 win over No. 3 Houston (note that that Wildcats had 14 turnovers, which were offset by a 36-23 rebounding discrepancy.)

The pick: Auburn suffered a blow with the injury to Okeke, but Auburn still possesses the talent to hang around late. I'm expecting a war until the end. Grab the points.

Auburn Tigers

10* play