The Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament takes place today and we will see the Tennessee Volunteers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN U. Currently the Odds for the game have Tennessee favored by 1.5 points while the total sits at 118.
Analysis: Tennessee is the SEC's hottest team, as it has won nine of its last 10 games, including a convincing second-round victory over Mississippi State on Thursday afternoon, 69-53. The Vols hot streak has allowed them to improve to 20-11 this season, and they have proven to be a serious contender for the tournament crown. The Volunteers have put up some big numbers on the offensive end over the last month but did their best work on defense in Thursday’s opener, holding the Bulldogs to 34.5 percent shooting. Tennessee has signature wins over the likes of Florida, Missouri and Kentucky while showing the type of finishing strength in the regular season the selection committee likes to see. Jordan McRae led with 17 points on Thursday and has been the catalyst by averaging 24.6 points in the last seven games. He had 17 points in the win over Alabama on Jan. 26, including a layup in the final minute that helped erase a 10-point deficit. Jarnell Stokes collected 15 points and 18 rebounds in that meeting after being held to six and seven in a 68-65 loss at the Crimson Tide on Jan. 12. McRae is the top scoring option with 16.2 ppg, while Stokes (12.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg) can go toe-to-toe with any big man in the league. Golden brings 12.2 ppg and a team-best 4.0 apg to the table.
Of the four teams that received double-byes into the quarterfinals, Alabama is the one coming in with the most question marks. It was bailed out by a game- winning half-court shot to win its regular-season finale, 61-58, against Georgia last Saturday to improve to 20-11 overall, but it had lost three of its previous four leading up to that matchup. Without a strong non-conference resume', the Tide will almost certainly need a deep run in this event to be considered for the NCAA Tournament field. he Crimson Tide have wins over Villanova and Kentucky to help their resume, but one or two more victories would certainly help. They earned the double-bye in the conference tournament by knocking off Georgia in the regular-season finale on Saturday. Trevor Releford hit a half-court buzzer beater to clinch that win and help avoid a three-game losing streak. Releford averaged 20.7 points over the final six games and combined for 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting in the two meetings with Tennessee. Alabama ranks second in the SEC in scoring defense (59.3) and held the Volunteers to 5-of-15 from 3-point range in its Jan. 12 win.
Pick: I am going with the hottest team in the SEC in this one. The Vols have won 9 of their last 10 bth SU and ATS and do have a 1 point win ver Alabama on their resume, so they are confident that they can beat this team. Alabama has limped down the stretch, losing 2 of their last 3 and they have lost their last 3 on the road as well. Look for Tennessee to continue it's resurgence with at least a 5 point win here.
Reading The March Madness Betting Market
As we head into the month of March, Vegas Runner and RJ Bell will take a look at reading the betting market for this years March Madness