So who wins the SEC Tournament this week...

The likely candidates are one of the four teams that drew a bye into the quarter-finals. Nothing has been remotely in the category of likely in the SEC as we have come to know this season. So anything is possible except LSU winning the tournament. I'd throw Auburn in that category as well.

Auburn avoid the cellar by winning their last game. Can anyone seriously see either variety of Tigers winning the Tournament? Not me.

The East would be the odds on favorite to have the winner fall out of their ranks. The big blue two, Kentucky and Florida are the favored to win according to Vegas. Vanderbilt seemed a good choice at one time. Georgia is once again playing at home. South Carolina is playing for next year. And Tennessee is trying to get its hoop Prozac adjusted. Looking at the East if Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, or Tennessee won on Sunday it would not be a huge surprise.

Now think about the West. Alabama and Mississippi State won the byes. Vegas gives Alabama an 8% chance of winning the clambake. The aforementioned pair of Tigers have 0.00% chance of winning to the boys who set the odds. Arkansas and Ole Miss might give a decent account of themselves before falling. But lets face it. Bama and State have been given about the same respect that Rodney Dangerfield might get if lost as a kid in traffic.                                                                                             

To the betting world it is Florida to come out of the lower bracket to play Kentucky in the upper bracket. Just for the fun of it let me tell you why that won't happen. Florida has been playing great. They couldn' t play any better, and are due for some type of letdown in Atlanta. It is conceivable that State behind really great games for Dee Bost, and Leon Spinks could pull an upset. Because the SEC is looked at as a wannabe in basketball this season it would not make much a splash nationwide should State win. But it would set off a small earthquake in these parts. If Mississippi State upset Florida the Kentucky fans would cut the nexts down on Saturday.

But Kentucky has a few problems of its own. In fact their problem number starts with 6. They play six players only. The haven't been road warriors and even Alabama beat Tennessee at home. Assuming the SEC mandates something akin to fair officiating  I can see the Ole Miss Rebels who have never played up to their potential giving the Cats a run. First, they have the size inside to offset some of the Kentucky size. They also have experienced guards who shouldn't fall apart at the first run the Wildcats take. I know that Kentucky is going to be the heads on favorite in this game (assuming Ole Miss gets past South Carolina). Write it down - Ole Miss is going to play Kentucky hard.

Alabama is waiting for neither of their favorite teams to come out of the first round Auburn-Georgia game. Alabama has barely beaten Auburn twice this season and you have to wonder if third time charms come true. Georgia and Alabama have more to gain NCAAwise than any other teams in the field. Just when Alabama proved to the selection committee that deserve a bid over Georgia they may have to tip it up again. If Georgia wins they'll be barking about beating Auburn and Alabama. Ironically, even if they won both games it will hurt their RPI. If Bama had to play Auburn again you can bet your last dollar that Barbee will use the same gameplan as before. He ran Alabama off its feet and turned the game into a food fight. An Alabama win will not help their RPI either. But if Auburn beats Georgia and Alabama beats Auburn it would at least take Georgia out of the NCAA conversation.

Alabama has a short bench. They can't afford another duel to the death with Auburn and expect to have legs to play Kentucky. The only way the Tide beats KU is to run them out of their Nikes. Alabama will have a hard time winning a half court game against the Wildcats. I'm not sure that Bama can count on Davis for three games in a row the way they had to count on him against Georgia last weekend. But perhaps Davis will continue to play inspired. If he does the Tide is going to be tough to beat.

When Alabama is shooting well they can beat anyone in the SEC. For that matter I believe they can beat almost anyone in the nation. Their defense is Shutter Island good. If the offense can catch fire the Tide will non only be tough in Atlanta but could make some NCAA noise. You can always take your defense with you on the road but sometimes the offense misses the bus.

I personally don't see how Bama doesn't make the field of 68. The won the SEC West in a runaway and won 4 or 6 against Eastern Division teams. Still it bothers me that all the pundits keep finding reasons why Alabama shouldn't be in the field. Simple question - do you think their are that many better teams in the nation right now than Alabama? Do you think that anyone is that much better than anyone else this year. That is one reason why everyone is struggling to say which teams should get in the field. I say we are in right now.

If you would like to leave some words of encouragment on the comments section below I will forward them our team. Hope to see many of you in Atlanta. Are any fans staying at the Hyatt Place in Buckhead. If so let me know. Roll Tide.


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