It’s a huge day of basketball around the SEC, with important games all over the schedule.
Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss face big tests away from home, while Tennessee, Auburn, and Arkansas host potential NCAA Tournament teams.
As always, my predictions are based on team analysis and who I think will win. Score projections are for my own amusement.
Let’s get to the picks, which are more abbreviated than usual due to being caught in a snow storm and having limited internet.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 92-18
Coastal Carolina at South Carolina – Noon EST, SEC Network
The Gamecocks haven’t looked spectacular or anything, but they’re winning games.
The key to this game will be turnovers, as both teams have struggled to take care of the ball. However, South Carolina is forcing 16.5 per contest (50th nationally) and should pull away late at home.
Prediction: South Carolina 71, Coastal Carolina 59
No. 8 Kentucky vs. Monmouth – Noon EST, ESPNU (Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY)
Monmouth has played a brutal schedule thus far, but home losses to Penn and Hofstra were a bit surprising.
Both squads have had trouble knocking down free throws and and committing turnovers, but Kentucky is the deeper team and should overwhelm the Hawks in the second half.
Prediction: Kentucky 80, Monmouth 65
Lipscomb at No. 24 Tennessee – 2:15 PM EST, SEC Network
No one expected the Vols to be ranked at this point, but they’ve looked like one of the best teams in the SEC.
However, this will not be an easy game. The Bisons will play fast and have enough capable scorers to go toe to toe with Rick Barnes’ team. Still, Tennessee has done nothing thus far that makes me believe that it’ll show any signs of slowing down here.
Prediction: Tennessee 80, Lipscomb 70
Prairie View A&M at No. 7 Texas A&M – 4:30 PM EST, SEC Network+
This is not a good spot for the visitors. The Aggies should be angry after the loss to Arizona, and they have a major size advantage with Robert Williams, Tyler Davis, and Tonny Trocha-Morelos leading the way.
Prairie View does have a solid win over Georgia State, but Texas A&M isn’t Georgia State.
Prediction: Texas A&M 88, Prairie View A&M 56
UAB at Auburn – 4:30 PM EST, SEC Network
Here’s where Auburn’s non-conference schedule gets interesting. The Tigers have played very well as of late and have gotten significantly better on defense.
But UAB may be the best team Bruce Pearl’s squad has played so far, and the Blazers have found momentum after losing three straight in the Cayman Islands.
Auburn’s defensive weakness has typically been guarding the perimeter, but with UAB shooting only 32.2 percent from beyond the arc (274th nationally), that may not be an issue.
I’m going to take a risk in picking the Tigers even with Mustapha Heron questionable to play.
Prediction: Auburn 81, UAB 78
North Georgia at Mississippi State – 5 PM EST, SEC Network+
This is another game that won’t tell us much about Mississippi State’s potential position in the SEC this season.
The Bulldogs move to 8-0, but we’ll find out how prepared they are when they travel to Cincinnati on Tuesday.
Prediction: Mississippi State 83, North Georgia 61
Ole Miss at MTSU – 6 PM EST, Facebook Live
The Blue Raiders held a 29-point lead at halftime during last year’s game in Oxford and hung on for a 15-point victory. So, perhaps revenge will be on the mind of the Rebels in this one.
This is essentially a toss-up, but my gut is telling me that Andy Kennedy will have his team refocused after losing two straight at home to South Dakota State and Virginia Tech.
The Rebels score a big win on the road against a very good team.
Prediction: Ole Miss 75, MTSU 73
No. 5 Florida vs. No. 17 Cincinnati – 6 PM EST, ESPN2 (Never Forget Tribute Classic in Newark, Game Preview)
It was shocking to see the complete turnaround for the Gators after looking so good at the PK 80. But just like many people around the country, I’m a bit worried about this team.
Florida has been lackluster on defense, and Cincinnati will play a physical style that could lead to a big advantage on the boards.
Right now, Mike White’s team has to shoot the ball well to win, and I don’t know that the Bearcats will allow the type offensive output that we saw against Gonzaga and Duke in Portland.
I’d like to think that the Gators get back on track, but my confidence level is rather low after this week’s events.
Prediction: Cincinnati 74, Florida 72
No. 14 Minnesota at Arkansas 6:45 PM EST, SEC Network
This is a game where we find out what Arkansas’s frontcourt is made of. Daniel Gafford is off to a good start this season, and he’ll need help around him against a Minnesota team that’s loaded with talent.
The Golden Gophers are coming off a loss at Nebraska earlier in the week, and this will be more difficult challenge due to the Razorbacks’ fast style and pressure defense.
I like the Hogs in an upset that may not really be an upset.
Prediction: Arkansas 76, Minnesota 72
Green Bay at Missouri – 9 PM EST, SEC Network
Green Bay has simply not been good on offense this season, and that’s not ideal in facing a Missouri team that has the size and length to affect shots in a big way.
The Tigers have found a bit of rhythm lately, and they’ll take care of business at home.
Prediction: Missouri 74, Green Bay 58
Alabama at Arizona – 10 PM EST, ESPN2 (Game Preview)
The Wildcats started finding their way with the overtime win against UNLV, and then kicked it up a notch with the victory over Texas A&M.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide were able to grind out a win over Rhode Island despite continued difficulties with turnovers and free throw shooting. Those two aspects will definitely be needed to pull off a win at Arizona.
Rawle Alkins is expected to play for the Wildcats, while Alabama sophomore Braxton Key’s status is still unknown.
The Tide are getting better, but this is a difficult spot against a team that has enough pieces to win a national championship.
Prediction: Arizona 78, Alabama 71
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