Bruce Pearl and Auburn are feeling right at home in Nashville this weekend. That’s a testament to the Auburn faithful, and it’s a big factor for Sunday’s championship game.

During SEC Tournament 2024 action, the Tigers have carved out back-to-back wins over South Carolina and Mississippi State. Saturday’s win was much tougher, but Auburn won those two games by a combined 38 points.

After Auburn’s win, Pearl sent out one more plea to Tiger fans to flood Bridgestone Arena on Sunday. He praised those already in attendance for making Nashville feel like the jungle, and Auburn needs a similar showing in the title game.

“This has become the jungle. Our Auburn fans have turned this into the jungle,” praised Pearl. “So right now, if you’re listening at home: Get in your car, drive up to Nashville. There are plenty of tickets available. Kentucky’s not here, Tennessee’s not here. Get in the car!

“Go to church — actually, you can’t go to church. Come to Tennessee and go to church, then fill this place up. War Eagle!”

Auburn heads into Sunday’s championship game against Florida, a team that beat the Tigers 81-65 in Gainesville during their lone regular season meeting. ESPN Bet has Auburn as an early 5.5-point favorite, and fans can track the latest odds and trends with SDS’s best sportsbooks.

How Auburn fans can swing the game

Already, the Tigers are favored against the Gators, but feeling at home means a lot for any team. It means even more for Auburn.

This season, the Tigers were 15-1 at home, the most victories at home of any team in the SEC. By contrast, the Tigers went 5-5 in true road games this year.

The lone loss at home came at the hands of Kentucky while the Tigers beat South Carolina and Alabama at home.

Speaking of the differences of playing at home vs. playing on the road, one of Auburn’s worst performances of the SEC season came in that loss to Florida in Gainesville.

In that game, Auburn shot a disastrous 3-for-17 (18%) from 3-point range and committed 15 turnovers with just 10 assists. On the season, the Tigers averaged 35% shooting from deep and led the SEC with 18.1 assists per game.

Playing at home definitely benefitted Florida and the Gators are also clicking in Nashville, but that doesn’t change the kind of groove Auburn has found offensively. And that’s the big key considering the defense of the Tigers will always travel.

In their 2 wins, the Tigers are shooting 15-for-38 (39%) from 3-point range and 33 total assists. Translation?

Auburn really is at home in Bridgestone Arena, and that could prove to be a difference-maker on Sunday.