We’ve reached the halfway mark of the SEC schedule, with every team around the league getting ready for its ninth game.
Of course, some teams are still in search of quality wins, while others are trying to add even more to their already solid NCAA Tournament resumes.
As always, my predictions are based on team schedules and who I think will win. Score projections are for my own amusement.
Let’s get to the picks.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 184-50
No. 23 Florida at Georgia – 7 PM EST, SEC Network
I’m still unsure what to expect from Georgia on a game by game basis. There are times where the Bulldogs remember that Yante Maten is one of the most dynamic players in the country, and there are times where they seem to forget that he’s on the floor.
Mark Fox’s team will need to hope that the latter situation doesn’t play out in this particular game, as Florida got back on track in a big way with a blowout win over Baylor in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Once again, Georgia’s physicality will decide this game. If Maten and company play aggressive inside and create havoc on the glass, it’ll go a long way towards helping pull off the upset against a Florida team that would rather make the game more perimeter based.
Statistically, Georgia is the best in the conference in effective field-goal percentage defense, and I think that’ll play a role here. The Bulldogs need to start picking up quality wins, and I’ll go with them to grab one in this spot.
Prediction: Georgia 70, Florida 68
No. 11 Auburn at Ole Miss – 9 PM EST, SEC Network
Auburn is another undefeated week away from being a top 10 team in the AP poll, although in my personal rankings, the Tigers are already inside of that mark.
And why shouldn’t they be? Bruce Pearl’s squad responded from the streak-snapping loss to Alabama with three straight wins, with all of them coming by at least 15 points. The depth and balance on this team is scary at times, and Ole Miss has already seen that first hand.
The Rebels lost the previous meeting between the two, but the good news is that this game is in Oxford. Ole Miss has yet to win a game on the road, but it has won six straight at home, which included victories over Alabama, Florida, Mississippi State, and South Carolina.
Will that streak continue? It might, simply because the Rebels understand how to beat Auburn. They played very well in the first half of the last meeting, and may be able to return to a similar formula if they can get off to a hot start.
But given how well the Tigers are playing, I’m just not prepared to pick against them right now despite this likely being a close game from start to finish.
Prediction: Auburn 81, Ole Miss 77
Vanderbilt at No. 21 Kentucky – 9 PM EST, ESPN
The biggest question coming out of Kentucky’s win at West Virginia is whether or not that performance will be a turning point for this young team. The Wildcats did the unthinkable in erasing a large second-half deficit, with Kevin Knox’s 34-point performance being the driving force for the comeback.
But will they carry that momentum into a game like this one? Vanderbilt has struggled mightily at times this season, and on paper, simply doesn’t have the frontcourt presence needed to keep Kentucky’s long and athletic squad from owning the boards.
However, the Commodores played one of their best games of the season last Saturday in knocking off TCU, and seniors Riley LaChance and Jeff Roberson are playing excellent at the moment. As is always the case with this Vanderbilt team, if 3-point shots are falling, they’ll have an opportunity to make this interesting.
Unfortunately, I think Kentucky plays with a lot of confidence in returning home from the potential season-altering win in Morgantown and comes away with the win.
Prediction: Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 65
Arkansas at Texas A&M – 9 PM EST, ESPNU
Can the Hogs win a second straight game on the road after having so many issues throughout the season?
That’s the most intriguing question heading into an absolute must-win game for the home team.
Texas A&M has lost seven of its last nine games, and while the Aggies are still included in most bracketology updates due to their stellar non-conference performances, they have to start winning games at some point.
This is a team that lacks urgency right now, and if that doesn’t kick in here, they are in trouble. But there’s still a part of me that thinks that the Aggies will turn the corner at some point.
It may be a risk to take them given all the head-scratching losses as of late, but I’ll take Billy Kennedy’s squad to earn a much-needed win.
Prediction: Texas A&M 74, Arkansas 70
[smbtoolbar]