2026 SEC Conference Tournament Predictions

Round One

#9 Kentucky Wildcats vs #16 LSU Tigers

• Winner: #9 Kentucky Wildcats
• Projected Score: Kentucky Wildcats 86 vs 77 LSU Tigers
• Line: UK -7.5 Total: 152.5
• Both teams enter not playing their greatest ball as of late. However, I think the talent level that Kentucky has with Mark Pope coaching and the guard play of Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen will just be too much for coach Matt McMahon to handle. The last time these teams met, Kentucky won a close road game, 75-74.

#12 Auburn Tigers vs #13 Mississippi St Bulldogs

• Winner: #12 Auburn Tigers
• Projected Score: Auburn Tigers 86 vs 81 Mississippi St Bulldogs
• Line: AUB -7.5 Total: 158.5
• Auburn has been a very polarizing team this season. They played the 4th hardest strength of schedule this season, but the results have not been there by any means under Bruce Pearl’s son, Steven Pearl, who has taken over the team. The Tigers' offense has great metrics, but their defense has been leaky all season. I think Senior Keyshawn Hall will get it done for Auburn, and they will live to fight another day, facing #5 Tennessee, whom they previously lost to.

#10 Texas Longhorns vs #15 Ole Miss Rebels

• Winner: #10 Texas Longhorns
• Projected Score: Texas Longhorns 86 vs 80 Ole Miss Rebels
• Line: TEX -5.5 Total: 145.5
• Texas is currently seeded as a 10 seed in the latest CBS Bracketology. The Longhorns have a high-octane offense; however, their defense has been bad all year as they rank near the bottom of the conference in defensive efficiency. Forward Dailyn Swain, who is one of the best players in the conference, will advance his team to face #7 Georgia in the second round.

#11 Oklahoma Sooners vs #14 South Carolina Gamecocks

• Winner: #11 Oklahoma Sooners
• Projected Score: Oklahoma Sooners 86 vs 77 South Carolina Gamecocks
• The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense has been red-hot lately. They take a lot of 3s and make a lot of 3s. I don’t think South Carolina has the offensive production to keep up with the Sooners. Oklahoma is also coming off a huge overtime win on the road against Texas right before the tournament. The Sooners will face the Aggies in Round Two.

Round Two

#8 Missouri Tigers vs #9 Kentucky Wildcats

• Winner: #9 Kentucky Wildcats
• Projected Score: Missouri Tigers 79 vs 83 Kentucky Wildcats
• Mark Pope and Otega Oweh will find a way to win this game. Kentucky ranks higher analytically than Missouri in offensive and defensive efficiency. Kentucky did lose to this team back in January, but I think they will still be able to squeak by the Tigers. Kentucky will face #1 Florida in the quarterfinals.

#5 Tennessee Volunteers vs #12 Auburn Tigers

• Winner: #5 Tennessee Volunteers
• Projected Score: Tennessee Volunteers 87 vs 77 Auburn Tigers
• Auburn’s run comes to an end. The Tigers will have an anxious selection Sunday after failing to make the big games they needed. Tennessee has played this team in late January and won at home. The analytics love Tennessee, and despite Auburn’s offense being better Tennesee is much better balanced offensively and defensively.

#7 Georgia Bulldogs vs #10 Texas Longhorns

• Winner: #7 Georgia Bulldogs
• Projected Score: Georgia Bulldogs 88 vs 87 Texas Longhorns
• This might be the closest game yet and could easily go either way. In terms of individual talent, I think Texas has the edge. However, Georgia’s offense is just a tiny bit better, and their defense is better. Georgia is coming in playing a little better. Georgia also beat Texas at home by 11. For those reasons, I will give the Georgia Bulldogs a slight edge.

#6 Texas A&M Aggies vs #11 Oklahoma Sooners

• Winner: #11 Oklahoma Sooners
• Projected Score: Texas A&M Aggies 82 vs 84 Oklahoma Sooners
• Texas A&M has started to play some solid basketball as of late but I think Oklahoma is just too hot to stop right now. Give me the Senior guard Nijel Pack to advance Oklahoma to the quarterfinals to face #3 Arkansas Razorbacks

Quarterfinals

#1 Florida Gators vs #9 Kentucky Wildcats

• Winner: #1 Florida Gators
• Projected Score: Florida Gators 84 vs 73 Kentucky Wildcats
• Florida is probably playing the best basketball in the entire country right now. Todd Golden has his boys rolling right now. I don’t think anyone in the country could beat them at this current moment, besides maybe 2 teams. Kentucky is 0-2 against them this season and will be looking for revenge. I don’t think it happens this season, and the Gators sweep the Wildcats. Florida advances to the semifinals, where they face the winner of an interstate matchup between Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

#4 Vanderbilt Commodores vs #5 Tennessee Volunteers

• Winner: #5 Tennessee Volunteers
• Projected Score: Vanderbilt Commodores 78 vs 80 Tennessee Volunteers
• Get your popcorn out for this matchup. Vanderbilt comes in after destroying the Volunteers on the road and is looking to bury them again. However, I think the Volunteers seek revenge on Vandy. This matchup is extremely close analytically, with no obvious winner. Tennessee is gonna have to clean up their defense and slow down Tyler Tanner, who just gave them 25 on their heads.

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #7 Georgia Bulldogs

• Winner: #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
• Projected Score: Alabama Crimson Tide vs Georgia Bulldogs
• This is gonna be an offensive shootout. Both teams rely heavily on their high-powered offense to do the work. If it becomes a shootout, that will favor the high-paced Nate Oats squad. The guard play of the Tide is just too lethal with Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway.

#3 Arkansas Razorbacks vs #11 Oklahoma Sooners

• Winner: #3 Arkansas Razorbacks
• Projected Score: Arkansas Razorbacks 89 vs 84 Oklahoma Sooners
• Both teams rely on their offensive production and not their defensive abilities. However, Arkansas and John Calipari just do it better than the Sooners. Oklahoma, with its run, most likely leaves the committee with a lot to think about with their resume improvement.

Semifinals

#1 Florida Gators vs #5 Tennessee Volunteers

• Winner: #1 Florida Gators
• Projected Score: Florida Gators 80 vs 72 Tennessee Volunteers
• As I said earlier, I don’t think anyone in this conference is gonna be able to keep up with the relentless defense and offense of the Gators. They are simply playing too good right now.

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #3 Arkansas Razorbacks

• Winner: #3 Arkansas Razorbacks
• Projected Score: Alabama Crimson Tide 86 vs 87 Arkansas Razorbacks
• This game went to double overtime in late January, and Alabama came away victorious. Darius Acuff Jr. will continue to dominate and come away with a victory. I think on neutral court, the Razorbacks will excel and defeat the Crimson Tide with a huge win to possibly move them up to a 4-3 seed in March Madness.

Championship

• #1 Florida Gators vs #3 Arkansas Razorbacks
• Winner: #1 Florida Gators
• Projected Score: Florida Gators 85 vs 76 Arkansas Razorbacks
• Once again, Florida is just playing too well to be stopped, and the Razorbacks aren’t gonna be the team to do it. Florida blew out the Razorbacks at home last time they played, and I don’t expect the Razorbacks to make the necessary adjustments to defeat the defending National Championships.