Bridgestone Arena in Nashville will once again host the SEC Basketball Tournament for the 19th consecutive year, and this 66th edition is expected to be a spectacle in college basketball as 16 teams compete for the coveted Southeastern Conference Championship Trophy and procure major momentum for the NCAA Tournament, which starts a week from tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/17, with the First Four games in Dayton. There will be two games next Tuesday, 3/17 and two games next Wednesday, 3/18 in the First Four. Then the rest of the field of 68 will start their NCAA Tournament journey on Thursday and Friday, 3/19 and 3/20, respectively. Joe Lunardi of ESPN has 11 SEC teams in the field for the NCAA’s in his Bracketology. No.4 Florida (nationally), No,15 Alabama, No. 17 Arkansas, No. 22 Vanderbilt, No.25 Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas and Auburn, though the Tigers metrics aren’t that swift in the Net Rankings and Ken Pom Rankings, good predictions of getting into the NCAA Tournament. Auburn has work to do in Nashville. A team like Oklahoma is playing pretty good ball right now, so they could make a possible run. That’s four straight days of winning, which is not unprecedented, but quite mentally and physically demanding.
Here are my predictions for the S-E-C Tournament. Teams’ seeds are listed in front of each team’s name.
Wednesday, 3/11, First Round
Bridgestone Arena holds 19,395 at capacity.
11:30 A.M. CT/12:30 ET, SEC Network
No.9 Kentucky 82, No.16 LSU 68
Kentucky by 6 1/2, Over/Under: 151 1/2
2 P.M. CT/3 ET, SEC Network
No.12 Auburn 78, No. 13 Mississippi State 70
Auburn by 7 1/2, 158 1/2
Stephen Pearl and his Tigers get off to a good start.
6 P.M. CT/7 ET, SEC Network
No. 10 Texas 76, No.15 Ole Miss 70
Texas by 5 1/2, 149 1/2
8:30 P.M. CT/9:30 ET, SEC Network
No. 11 Oklahoma 80, South Carolina 73
OU by 6 1/2, 150 1/2
Kentucky, Auburn, Texas and Oklahoma advance to Thursday.
Thursday, 3/12, Second Round
***These lines will be published when posted, as will the forthcoming games after that.***
11:30 A.M. CT/12:30 ET, SEC Network
Kentucky 78, No.8 Missouri 77
KY by 3 1/2, 148 1/2
Wildcats pull off what should be an upset and advance to quarters on Friday.
2 P.M. CT/3 ET, SEC Network
No.5 Tennessee 74, Auburn 70
Tennessee by 5 1/2, 149 1/2
Tennessee survives and advances and the Tigers will sweat it out on Selection Sunday.
6 P.M. CT/7 ET, SEC Network
No.7 Georgia 84, Texas 81
Dawgs are solid. Texas is too. Should be an excellent game.
8:30 P.M. CT/9:30 East, SEC Network
Oklahoma 78, No. 6 Texas A&M 76
A&M by 2 1/2, 161 1/2
The Sooners advance and A&M will have some anxiety on Selection Sunday as well.
Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Oklahoma advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Friday, 3/13, Quarterfinals
12 P.M. CT/ 1 ET, ESPN
No.1 Florida 81, Kentucky 78
Gators by 11 1/2, 160 1/2
Hard to defeat a team three times in one season, but I’ll take the Gators to just “get by,” as Jerry sang.
2:30 P.M. CT/3:30 ET, ESPN
No.4 Vanderbilt 69, Tennessee 67
Tennessee by 1 1/2, 146 1/2
This will be more of a slugfest with the Dores just prevailing.
6 P.M. CT/7 ET, SEC Network
No.2 Alabama 82, Georgia 80
Crimson Tide by 11 1/2, 163 1/2
Georgia handled the Tide in Athens last Tuesday, but the Crimson Tide edges them out in Bridgestone.
8:30 P.M. CT/ 9:30 ET, SEC Network
No.3 Arkansas 84, Oklahoma 68
Hogs by 7 1/2, 168 1/2
Hogs advance with superb point guard Darius Acuff Jr. most likely in the lineup.
Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Arkansas advance to the Semis.
Saturday, 3/14, Semifinals
12 P.M. CT/ 1 ET, ESPN
Florida 85, Vanderbilt 83
Gators by 8 1/2, 160 1/2
Gators just prevail in a hard fought NCAA Tournament-like contest.
2:30 P.M. CT/3:30 ET, ESPN
Arkansas 94, Alabama 92
Arkansas over Ole Miss by 8 /12, 158 1/2
The Hogs get by in a blockbuster.
Championship Sunday, 3/15
Arkansas vs. Florida
I picked the Gators to win the SEC and NCAA Tournaments respectively last season, and Walter Clayton Jr. as my MVP in both the SEC Tournament and Final Four, and both Florida and Clayton Jr. delivered. Clayton Jr. is now with the Memphis Grizzlies of the Association as he was the 18th pick in the first round by the Washington Wizards in the 2025 NBA Draft, then was traded to Utah, and, ultimately, traded to Memphis. It’s a serious business in the pros, though college has become more like that model. Hoping that commission that met at the White House last week can make some positive changes in that regard.
Clayton Jr. is averaging 7 points per game and 3 assists for the Grizzlies. Pretty decent first season. He was a machine in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments in 2025 carrying his team on his shoulders to both the SEC and National Championships.
But I actually think Florida is better this year. They’ve got skyscrapers all over the post and their guards are terrific. Give me 6’9″, 215 pound power forward Thomas Haugh ( 17.5 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists) and the Gators, but in a tight contest. Florida has 5 or 6 NBA prospective NBA players in their rotation, but Arkansas has their share too. I expect the Hogs to give the Gators everything they want.
Florida 95, Arkansas 94
MVP: Haugh
10 Responses
Thanks for the previews and analysis, DW! Like your Florida pick! The Gators have a terrific front wall. Look for Rueben Chinyelu to control the paint. He’s a great rim protector!
The Gators look really tough. I hope the Aggies do well in the SEC tourney. Thanks for the picks DW and I cannot argue with your pick.
Florida should sail through the SEC tournament and might win it all again.
Thanks a ton, Fellas.
Agree on Florida. Can’t wait to see your Players Championship preview. WT
Thanks, WT!
Great information. I have my SEC bracket. Sure hope Auburn can win a few games to help with overall morale and NCAA Tournament selection. Gators are tough as are others. Looking forward to this one. Thanks DW.
Thanks, ‘80!
I like your picks including the Gators to win the tourney. Fun few weeks ahead!
No doubt, D! Loving the Baja and Lean Bowls at D-2/8. Got a salad last night. Awesome joint you have!