After plenty of entertaining matchups, we’ve reached the championship game of the SEC Tournament.
There are some great storylines entering Sunday’s game between Tennessee and Auburn, as last season’s regular season co-champs will square off for a conference tournament title.
Let’s get to the pick.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 230-78
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Auburn – 1 p.m. EST, ESPN
It’s not all that surprising to see these two teams in the championship, with both proving throughout the season that they were capable of beating anyone.
Of course, they also just played a little over a week ago, and Auburn was able to notch the home victory behind a hot shooting performance while also committing just five turnovers.
That was a theme for the Tigers in the win over Florida as they committed just four turnovers against one of the nation’s most efficient defensive teams, and if that trend continues, they’ll be tough to beat.
There’s also a question of how the Vols respond to what was one of the most thrilling games they’ve played all season. The letdown effect is something that gets talked about a lot after huge rivalry games, especially in a tournament setting.
However, Grant Williams and company have consistently proven that they have the intangibles needed to make a run at a national title, so perhaps there should be fewer worries about a possible hangover after the victory over Kentucky.
Statistically speaking, Tennessee has to control the Tigers’ 3-point attack while not allowing them to turn defense into offense. Bruce Pearl’s squad has made 12 or more 3-pointers in four straight games, and their ability to get going in a hurry can completely flip the momentum of a game in a hurry.
This is essentially going to be a true road game for Auburn considering the amount of Tennessee fans that will be in attendance, so the Tigers have to approach this one with a focused mentality if they want to counter that aspect of the game.
Auburn has the offensive firepower to win, but with the Vols getting a boost in confidence from their incredible effort in the semifinals, they may be the better pick here.
Prediction: Tennessee 74, Auburn 70
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