RADIO
March is here, and the college basketball season is heating up. Conference tournaments have already begun. There is no surprise that the SEC has been viewed as the toughest conference in the nation regarding basketball, but only one SEC team will be crowned the 2024 tournament champion.
This week, all 14 teams will battle it out at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee for the 2024 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament. The teams hope to become tournament champions and punch their automatic ticket into March Madness.
Let's dive into the tournament, where we will discuss the outlook and predictions of how the bracket will unfold. So buckle up because this week could redefine the season for many of these teams.
First and Second Round Preview
The first round of the 2024 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday. Game 1 will feature No. 13 seed Vanderbilt against No. 12 seed Arkansas, and Game 2 will feature No. 11 seed Georgia versus No. 14 seed Missouri.
Both of these first-round games should be close and exciting, as this could be the last game of the season for all four of these teams. Out of these four teams, potentially watch out for both Arkansas or Georgia to possibly see themselves upsetting a higher-seeded team in this tournament, as both teams have had some solid wins throughout the season.
After Day 1 is complete, the winners of Game 1 will play No. 5 seed South Carolina, and the winner of Game 2 will face No. 6 seed Florida. Games already set in stone for Round 2 are No. 8 seed LSU versus No. 9 seed Mississippi State and No. 7 seed Texas A&M against No. 10 seed Ole Miss. The second round will be fascinating to watch as most of the teams in that round are projected to be selected or will be a bubble team to compete in March Madness later this month.
The Bracket.
🔗 https://t.co/VhogXpLaYc#SECMBB x #SECTourney pic.twitter.com/F8v8rA0Ph6
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 10, 2024
Tournament Odds
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Tennessee Volunteers have the best odds of winning the SEC Tournament at +130. Tennessee is 24-7 on the season and is coming off a loss against Kentucky after winning seven straight games over ranked teams such as Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina. Auburn is listed as the second-best odds at +260, followed by Kentucky at +400 and Alabama at +450. The complete list is provided below.
Tennessee +130
Auburn +260
Kentucky +400
Alabama +450
Florida +2000
South Carolina +6000
Mississippi State +6500
Texas A&M +10000
Ole Miss +25000
LSU +30000
Arkansas +30000
Georgia +50000
Vanderbilt +100000
Missouri +100000
A value play that viewers should consider could be Alabama, who is 21-10 on the season. Alabama is the No. 3 seed in the tournament, and its odds are set at +450 despite finishing second in the SEC during the regular season. The Crimson Tide have been one of the most explosive offenses in the country, with an average of 90.8 points per game, ranking second in the nation.
Another value play could be Florida, who is also 21-10. Florida has been one of the more consistent teams in the year's second half, with just four losses in its last 14 games, with big wins over Kentucky, Auburn, and Alabama.
Tournament Prediction
The SEC Tournament will be one of the most intense tournaments this week, but which team will come out on top? The Auburn Tigers are a team that caught my eye to take home the 2024 championship as they are led by star forward Johni Broome, averaging 16.3 points per game this season while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
Auburn has a deep roster that brings energy and excitement to every contest they attend. They are currently ranked 12th in the country, but have a four seed in the tournament after sharing a second-place finish in the SEC standings alongside South Carolina, Kentucky, and Alabama.
The stars will shine in this tournament, but only one team can come out on top. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 17 at 1 p.m. EDT.
Not in his house 🛑#WarEagle | @JohniBroome pic.twitter.com/IG21jmBEdU
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 11, 2024
Stay tuned for all the college basketball news and updates here at RotoBaller throughout the entire season!
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