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No. 1 Houston is set to take on No. 9 Auburn in the second round of March Madness 2023. Houston might be one of the best teams entering the NCAA tournament, but Auburn will have the unlikely homecourt advantage for Saturday's game.
The Cougars were able to prevent an upset from No. 16 Northern Kentucky on Thursday. They played without All-American guard Marcus Sasser in the second half after he aggravated his groin injury, but managed to pull off a 63-52 victory.
Meanwhile, Auburn earned a 83-75 win over No. 8 Iowa in the first round. The game's first half was a low-scoring affair before both teams exploded in the second half. The Tigers allowed 49 points from the Hawkeyes, but scored 52 points of their own.
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Match Details
Fixture: Houston vs Auburn | Round 2 | March Madness 2023
Date and Time: Saturday, March 18, 7:10 PM ET (Sunday, March 19, 4:40 AM IST)
Venue: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, AL
Houston Preview
Houston were the favorites to win March Madness 2023 before the bracket was announced. They are still the favorites despite their tough win over Northern Kentucky in the first round.
The Cougars' future is in the hands of their medical staff due to the injuries of Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead. Sasser re-injured his groin in the first half of Thursday's game, while Shead is playing through a hyperextended knee.
It also doesn't help Houston that Auburn will have an unfair homecourt advantage in their second-round matchup. Legacy Arena is just a two-hour drive from Auburn and Tigers fans are expected to support their team live.
Auburn Preview
Auburn might not have the star power of Houston, but they are a grit-and-grind team poised for an upset. While they can get hot anytime on offense, their defense could be enough to stop the Cougars, especially if both Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead are out.
Johni Broome will look to have another big game on Saturday following his performance against Iowa. Broome had 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Wendall Green Jr. added 15 points, two rebounds and three assists.
The Tigers are expected to have a home game-like atmosphere against Houston. Their fans could be an X-factor for their upcoming March Madness 2023 showdown with the best team in the nation.
Houston vs Auburn Prediction
The Houston Cougars are predicted to beat the Auburn Tigers and advance to the Sweet 16, as per Oddsshark. However, Houston could be in trouble if both Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead are unable to play due to their respective injuries.
Where to watch Houston vs Auburn March Madness 2023?
The Houston vs Auburn game in the second round of March Madness 2023 will be televised on TBS. It will also be streamed live on Paramount+, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirectTV Stream.
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