Last year an upstart Auburn team ended Kentucky’s string of four consecutive SEC Tournament championships. Specifically, U of K has won six of the last nine SEC tourneys. And will be the prohibitive College Basketball betting favorite to do so again. Kentucky was the regular-season champion of the SEC this season. But conference tournaments often bring the element of a wild card. A team like Kentucky is assured of a Big Dance invite. While marginal teams such as Mississippi State and South Carolina are not. Winning the SEC Tournament can get such teams a pair of dance shoes.
2020 SEC Tournament
| Date: | Wednesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 15, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee |
| SEC Tournament TV Coverage: | Check Listings |
| College Basketball Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
#6 Kentucky Wildcats (24-6 SU, 16-14 ATS, 15-15 OU)
To begin with, Kentucky ran away with the SEC regular-season championship. While not a dominant team the Wildcats are quite good. Balance is the online betting strength of the UK. Kentucky has national rankings of 88th in scoring offense and 79th for points allowed. Namely, G Immanuel Quickley leads the Wildcats with 16.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. F Nick Richards added 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per outing. The UK is in good form with seven covers in their last nine games.
#17 Auburn Tigers (24-6 SU, 13-17 ATS, 14-15 OU)
Coach Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are always exciting. However, a lack of defense let too many opponents through the back door to the payout window this year. War Eagle ranked 29th in scoring offense, but 213th for points allowed. Further, Auburn did not close well with six losses to the spread in their last eight games. G Samir Doughty leads the Tigers with 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
LSU Tigers (20-10 SU, 13-16-1 ATS, 18-11 OU)
Starting with a national ranking as high as 18th this season was LSU a thing. But the long grind of the season wore down the Bayou Bengals. LSU will limp in with just three covers in their last 10 games. In the same way as Auburn, the Tigers rank 16th for scoring offense but 286th for points allowed. G Skylar Mays leads with 16.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (19-11 SU, 16-13-1 ATS, 20-10 OU)
Coach Ben Howland’s team went to the Big Dance last year and is now on the bubble. Extending the Bulldogs shaky status is inconsistent. MSU ranks 108th in scoring offense and 165th for points allowed. In comparison to top teams, they need a strong SEC Tournament run. F Reggie Perry averages 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Florida Gators (19-11, 16-13-1 ATS, 20-10 OU)
Now the Gators show improved form with five College Basketball betting cover in their last seven games. F Keyontae Johnson is an asset with 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game
South Carolina Gamecocks (18-12 SU, 17-13 ATS, 17-12 OU)
Another inconsistent, but a potentially good team is Coach Frank Martin’s Gamecocks. USC has covered five of its last eight games.
Dark Horses
Last week, Tennessee upset Kentucky 81-73 and boasts the nation’s 34th ranked defense. Texas A&M has covered four of their last six and won at Auburn 78-75 last Wednesday. By contrast, Alabama is the second highest-scoring team in the nation. Arkansas is another strong offensive team that boasts a recent win over LSU.
SEC Tournament Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats