Auburn leads the attack as a SEC tournament begins
The trip to March Madness starts in Nashville and the SEC tournament will be one of the most competitive years in the years. Auburn comes in as the favorite, a team that has proven its dominance by locking the title for the regular season before the last play week. The tigers of Bruce Pearl hunt for something that is even bigger – a national championship.
But nothing is easy in the SEC.
The Tigers may be the team to beat, but they are far from the only competition. Alabama, Tennessee and Florida have all shown flashes of sparkle, and in a conference full of athletics, speed and elite defense, a championship run is never guaranteed.
And this year? The deployment is even higher.
A record year for the sec?
The SEC has been a force in college basketball this season and that dominance could rewrite the record books. The competition is on track to send 12 teams to the NCAA tournament that the record of 11 bids would break that were set by the Big East in 2011.
The Big Ten also urges bids with double digits, but the depth of the SEC stands out. From top to bottom this is one of the deepest fields in the country, and every competition in Nashville can shape the bracket for March Madness.
Teams on the Bubble: Georgia and Oklahoma
Two teams desperately come to a victory: Georgia and Oklahoma.
Georgia closed the season on a four-game extraction streak, including a statement upset the victory over Florida. That late Golf has put them in position for a big offer, but a victory or two this week would erase any doubt.
In the meantime, Oklahoma has been a story of two seasons. The Sooners started 13-0 and set up the national rankings before he came across the piece. Now they are in a must-win situation. If they can survive and move forward in Nashville, they must be safe in the NCAA field for the first time since 2021.
The road to the championship
Auburn may have claimed the crown in the regular season, but the SEC tournament is its own battle.
Alabama, led by his powerful attack, has the opportunity to lead teams from the gym in Leiden. Tennessee, one of the most difficult defensive teams in the country, can put down opponents. And Florida, with its combination of size and scoring, is more than able to make a deep run.
The matchups, the pressure, the deployment – it all comes together in Nashville.
Towards the end of the week the SEC will have crowned a champion, but for many teams this is just the beginning. The real test comes in March Madness, where the SEC is set to write history.
Sec futures opportunities
Betonline’s sec Tournament Championship odds:
- Auburn Tigers +140
- Florida Gators +300
- Alabama Crimson Tide +375
- Tennessee Volunteers +575
- Kentucky Wildcats +2200
- Texas A&M Aggies +2500
- Missouri Tigers +2500
- Mississippi Rebels +6000
- Mississippi State Bulldogs +10000
- Georgia Bulldogs +15000
- Arkansas Razorbacks +15000
- Texas Longhorns +20000
- Vanderbilt Commodores +20000
- Oklahoma Sooners +25000
- Louisiana State Tigers +50000
- South Carolina GameCocks +50000
2025 sec Tournament -scheme
The SEC tournament runs from 12-16 March in Nashville, Tenn.
First round
- No. 16 South Carolina vs. No. 9 Arkansas, 1 pm et Wednesday (Sec Network)
- No. 13 Texas vs. No. 12 Vanderbilt, 15:30 ET Wednesday (SEC Network)
- No. 15 LSU versus no. 10 Mississippi State, 7 pm et Wednesday (Sec Network)
- No. 14 Oklahoma vs. no. 11 Georgia, 21:30 et Wednesday (Sec Network)
Second round
- South Carolina/Arkansas vs. No. 8 Ole Miss, 1 pm et Thursday (Sec Network)
- Texas/Vanderbilt vs. no. 5 Texas A&M, 3.30 pm et Thursday (Sec Network)
- LSU/Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Missouri, 7 pm et Thursday (Sec Network)
- Oklahoma/Georgia versus no. 6 Kentucky, 21:30 ET Thursday (Sec Network)
Quarter -finals
- TBA versus no. 1 Auburn, 1 pm et Friday (ESPN)
- TBA vs. No. 4 Tennessee, 15:30 ET Friday (ESPN)
- TBA versus no. 2 Florida, 7 pm et Friday (SEC Network)
- TBA versus no. 3 Alabama, 9.30 pm et Friday (SEC Network)
Semi -final
- TBA vs. TBA, 1 pm et Saturday (ESPN)
- TBA vs. TBA, 3.30 pm et Saturday (ESPN)
Championship
TBA vs. TBA, 1 pm et Sunday (ESPN)
Sec Tournament Expert Picks and the best bets
For Auburn the path is clear: win in Nashville, and a number 1 general seed in the NCAA tournament is almost secure. But the real question is whether the Tigers even have to.
The Bruce Pearl team is deep, tested by fighting and more than able to win three games in three days. But would auburn appear with March Madness, better-serving important players such as Johni Broome, Denver Jones and Chad Baker-Mazara instead of having to chase a conference title?
Try to sell that to Bruce Pearl – a coach who knows only one way to play: fully gas. But I stay away from the favorites in this while I am looking for some value, despite the fact that Auburn is the most complete team in the country.
Expertkick: Florida +300
The Gators are another team to watch. The TODD Golden team has proven that it can win everywhere and Auburn and Alabama can beat on the road. But motivation is a factor.
Golden has seen his teams run up important injuries in recent years during conference tournaments – once in San Francisco, once in Florida. He knows the risks. Will he push his team for a title, or give priority to fresh legs for March?
Expertkick: Alabama +375
Alabama has been offensive brilliant, with Mark Sears who led the leadership, but defensive inconsistency can be their downfall. They just played three straight thrillers against the top teams of the SEC and went 1-2. The last four run of the Tide last year came after an early SEC tournament -Exit -can history repeat?
Expertkick: Tennessee +575
And then there is Tennessee. The best defense in the country (per Kenpom) makes them a nightmare -matchup. But if an opponent gets hot from deep, look out the vols rank 345E in 3-point attempts allowed.
Their defense includes mistakes, but when the attack stagnates, Tennessee may have difficulty keeping up.
In a competition so deep, everything can happen – and in March it usually does that.
Best bets:
- Florida +300
- Alabama +375
- Tennessee +575
