The Tigers have a lot going for them heading into this matchup, not the least of which is the condition of Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead. I expect both to play, but I don't believe Sasser will be close to 100% and it wouldn't shock me if he ultimately sits out a majority of the game. Add in the facts that Auburn is playing close to home and has been very good over the last month, and you have a great recipe for a cover.

This will be the Houston Cougars' fifth game in eight days. That's a far cry from the regular season where teams get plenty of days to rest and prepare. I think the Tigers match up quite well and that was before Marcus Sasser's groin injury. He's going to play, but won't be 100% healthy. Auburn played a much tougher schedule this season. I'm taking the points with the Tigers in this spot!

Marcus Sasser, Houston's premier player, is questionable. Ditto point guard, Jamal Shead. The Cougars are facing a quasi-road game against Auburn in Birmingham. Their games tend to lean low-scoring, which makes the 5.5 spot a sizable one. Even if the ailing duo plays. -- and no way Sasser would be in optimum condition -- a cover is a big ask in these circumstances.

Houston did NOT look good against Northern Kentucky on Thursday night. With star guard Marcus Sasser's availability uncertain with a groin injury, the Tigers will be a trendy upset pick at a game played two hours from their campus in Birmingham. But I'm focused on the total here. Auburn's last 10 games have gone over this number and they have averaged 75.3 points per game in those contests. While I think Houston will still win a close one, I'd be surprised if the winner didn't reach 70, which makes this Over a good bet.

Midwest Region second-round game Saturday. If the Auburn version that played Iowa shows up, the Tigers could win this game. And now Houston might be without star Marcus Sasser, the AAC Player of the Year. He was iffy for Round 1 against Northern Kentucky with a groin injury and then aggravated it in the sloppy win. Coach Kelvin Sampson has more basketball knowledge in his earlobe than I do in my lifetime, but why on earth play Sasser against a No. 16 seed? In addition, Sampson spoke with CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson following the Cougars' 63-52 victory and said that guard Jamal Shead is dealing with "a bad knee." Shead had 13 points, three rebounds and six assists but six turnovers and was just 6-for-15 from the field. Obviously a huge pro-Auburn crowd in Birmingham (seems like a raw deal that top-seeded Houston has to play Auburn in Alabama). I'll probably sprinkle some Auburn ML personally. The under 131 looks pretty good too but I'll wait and see where that goes.

At the risk of jumping on a trendy dog, I have to snap up the points fading this Houston team that seems to be coming apart at the seams at the wrong time. We knew about Marcus Sasser's groin injury (which he re-aggravated in the first round win) but now we also have fellow starting guard Jamal Shead dealing with a knee injury. The vibes are not good and the setting, Birmingham, sets up to be a comfortable spot for Auburn. The Tigers will have a disadvantage of early-arriving Alabama fans rooting hard for Houston, but if Northern Kentucky can make Houston sweat for 40 minutes I think Auburn can hang around as well.