SEC Tournament – Syndication Server

Alabama vs. Florida odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Alabama vs. Florida odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The third-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (25-7) battle the second-seeded Florida Gators (28-4) Saturday in the semifinal round of the SEC Tournament. Tip-off from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Alabama vs. Florida odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

No. 8 Alabama closed out the regular season with a big win at Auburn last Saturday (March 8) and carried that momentum into the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide dominated the No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats in the quarterfinals Friday, cruising to a 99-70 victory and easily covering as 9-point favorites. The Under (178.5) cashed. Alabama is chasing its third SEC Tournament title since 2021, but regardless of how this run ends, it is locked in for its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

No. 4 Florida stayed hot in the SEC Tournament, grabbing its 10th win in the last 11 games with a 95-81 victory over the No. 22 Missouri Tigers Friday night. The Gators covered as 9.5-point favorites, and the Over (164.5) hit with ease.

Now, they’re looking to return to the SEC title game for the second straight year and finally break through. Florida hasn’t won this tournament since 2014.

Florida beat the Crimson Tide 99-94 in their lone regular-season meeting March 5. The Gators covered as 3.5-point road favorites, and the Over (178.5) cashed.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now!

Alabama vs. Florida odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:41 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Alabama +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Florida -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Alabama +3.5 (-110) | Florida -3.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 174.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

Alabama vs. Florida picks and predictions

Prediction

Florida 96, Alabama 91

Moneyline

PASS.

I’ve got Florida (-170) heading to the SEC title game, but I’d rather take the better odds on the spread instead.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Against the spread

BET FLORIDA -3.5 (-110).

This matchup has everything you want in a big-time game, with the winner likely locking up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Florida has been tough to beat because it can attack in so many ways. It has a talented trio of guards in Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard, all with plenty of experience in big moments. Plus, F Alex Condon provides a solid inside presence to balance things out.

Alabama, meanwhile, has turned into a powerhouse under coach Nate Oats. The guy knows how to win, and he’s built a team that can flat-out score. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring at 91.4 points per game (PPG), led by first-team All-American G Mark Sears, who’s putting up 19.2 points and 5.0 assists per game. The problem? Their defense is almost nonexistent, giving up 80.7 PPG — one of the worst marks in the country.

The first game between these two was a shootout, and this one should be no different. But Florida actually plays defense, and that’s why it has the edge here.

Over/Under

BET OVER 174.5 (-105).

It’s tough to ignore the scoring potential in this matchup. When these 2 teams met earlier this season, they combined for 193 points, blowing past the total. Alabama has hit the Over in 6 of its last 9 games, while Florida has gone Over in 5 straight. With both teams playing at a relentless pace, expect a track meet with plenty of buckets and little defense to slow things down.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Tennessee vs. Auburn odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Tennessee vs. Auburn odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The No. 4 seed Tennessee Volunteers (26-6) battle the top-seeded Auburn Tigers (28-4) in an SEC Tournament semifinal Saturday. Tip-off from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Tennessee vs. Auburn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Tennessee — No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll — claimed its sixth win in the last 7 games as it took down Texas 83-72 in a Friday quarterfinal. G Chaz Lanier’s 23 points led 4 Volunteers in double figures, helping Tennessee cover as a 10.5-point favorite with the Over (137.5) easily hitting. Tennessee is chasing its first SEC Tournament title since 2022, but no matter how things play out, the Vols are locked into their seventh straight NCAA Tourney appearance.

After losing its 2 final regular-season games, third-ranked Auburn bounced back in the SEC quarterfinals with a gritty 62-57 win over Ole Miss Friday. The Rebels made Bruce Pearl’s Tigers work for it, holding them to their lowest point total since Jan. 25 when Auburn squeaked by a visiting Vols squad 53-51. F Johni Broome finished with a double-double (23 points, 15 rebounds) Friday, but the Tigers didn’t cover as 13-point favorites with the Under (156) cashing. The Tigers are looking to defend their SEC Tournament title and lock in a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history.

Auburn’s 53-51 win over Tennessee (mentioned above) was the lone regular-season meeting between the SEC rivals. While the Tigers won, the Vols covered as 6.5-point road underdogs and the Under (141.5) cashed. Auburn’s Broome scored a game-high 16 points, while G Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee with 14 points.

Tennessee vs. Auburn odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:17 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Tennessee +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Auburn -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee +4.5 (-115) | Auburn -4.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 138.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

Tennessee vs. Auburn picks and predictions

Prediction

Tennessee 68, Auburn 65

Moneyline

BET TENNESSEE (+155).

Defense will be the key to the Vols heading back to the SEC Championship Game for their first time since 2022. This matchup is all about the Tigers offense vs. the Volunteers defense. Auburn averages 84.4 points per game (PPG), ranking fifth in the country, but Tennessee locks teams down and allows just 62.2 PPG, which is seventh-best in D-I hoops.

As mentioned, the Volunteers held the Tigers to a season-low 53 points earlier this season, nearly winning on the road.

Auburn has also been careless with the ball, averaging 12.3 turnovers in its last 3 games, up from its season average of 9.3 (ranking fifth). That included 15 against Ole Miss Friday. The Tigers can’t afford such mistakes against the Vols, who have shown they know how to capitalize.

If the Volunteers control the tempo and make this a grind-it-out game, they’ll be in great shape. Expect Tennessee to wear Auburn down and advance to Sunday’s SEC title game.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Against the spread

PASS … since we’re on the Tennessee moneyline.

If you prefer to take the 4.5 points, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I’ll take my chances with the plus-odds on the moneyline.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 138.5 (-105).

These teams combine to hold opponents to just 131.8 PPG (Auburn allows 69.6 PPG), making defense the story here. Tennessee’s reputation on that end is well known, but Auburn isn’t far behind.

The Volunteers aren’t looking to get into a shootout, knowing that would favor Auburn. Look for Tennessee to dictate the tempo, slow things down, and turn this into a grind-it-out battle rather than a high-scoring affair.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Oklahoma vs. Kentucky odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Oklahoma vs. Kentucky odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Oklahoma Sooners (20-12) and the No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats (21-10) meet Thursday in a SEC Tournament second-round game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Oklahoma vs. Kentucky odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Fourteenth-seeded Oklahoma ousted No. 11 seed Georgia 81-75 in a first-round matchup Wednesday for a third consecutive victory. G Jeremiah Fears poured in 29 points with 6 rebounds, while F Mohamed Wague added 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as the Sooners pulled off the upset as 3.5-point underdogs with the Over (146.5) cashing.

Oklahoma has won 4 of the past 6 games, while covering the spread in each of the 6 outings. That includes an 83-82 loss to Kentucky in Norman as a 3.5-point underdog spread with the total (165) pushing. Wildcats G Otega Oweh had 28 points with 6 boards and 2 blocks in that win, while F Jalon Moore led the Sooners with 20 points and Fears finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the loss.

Kentucky is coming off back-to-back wins vs. LSU (March 4) and at No. 22 Missouri (Saturday), but has just 4 wins in the past 7 games, while going 2-3 against the spread (ATS) in the previous 5 outings. The Wildcats are 7-7 straight up in the past 14 games since Jan. 18, too.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Oklahoma vs. Kentucky odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:26 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Oklahoma +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | Kentucky -285 (bet $285 to win $100)
Against the spread: Oklahoma +6.5 (-110) | Kentucky -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 160.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

Oklahoma vs. Kentucky picks and predictions

Prediction

Kentucky 85, Oklahoma 81

Moneyline

Kentucky (-285) will cost nearly 3 times the potential return, and that’s a hefty price for a team playing .500 ball across the past 14 games. It’s a hefty price, period. There is never a reason to justify paying such a high price for such a small return — as a standalone wager or as part of a multi-leg parlay.

PASS.

Against the spread

OKLAHOMA +6.5 (-110) is trying to nudge its way into the mix for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, but it obviously needs to go on a run in this tourney. Beating Kentucky would inch it closer to the dance, but it still would have work to do.

The Sooners are hungry, and playing great basketball lately, covering 6 in a row. Even if Oklahoma can’t pull off the resume-building upset, it is still worth playing catching the 3 buckets.

Over/Under

OVER 160.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Over has hit in each of the past 3 games for Kentucky, which averaged 93.0 points per game in its 2 final regular-season contests.

As mentioned Oklahoma hit the Over in its tournament opener Wednesday in the win over Georgia. The Over is 4-1-1 in the Sooners’ past 6 games, including that push against the Wildcats.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Photos of Tennessee baseball winning 2024 SEC Tournament

Photos of Tennessee baseball defeating LSU and winning the 2024 SEC Tournament championship.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (50-11) defeated No. 11 seed LSU (40-21), 4-3, on Sunday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

15,686 were in attendance at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

Dylan Loy earned his second won of the season for the Vols. He recorded five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Loy totaled 78 pitches, including 48 strikes, against 18 batters.

Billy Amick hit a three-run home run in the third inning for Tennessee.

Tennessee won its fifth SEC Tournament title in program history and the second under seventh-year head coach Tony Vitello. The Vols also won the SEC regular-season championship in 2024.

Below are photos of Tennessee’s win against LSU in the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday.

Tennessee baseball wins SEC Tournament championship

Tennessee baseball defeats LSU to win the SEC Tournament championship in Hoover.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (50-11) defeated No. 11 seed LSU (40-21), 4-3, on Sunday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

AJ Russell started for Tennessee and pitched one inning. He totaled 13 pitches, including 10 strikes, against four batters. Russell allowed a solo home run by Jared Jones in the first innings.

Tennessee totaled eight hits in the contest, including a three-run home run by Billy Amick in the third inning.

The Vols won the SEC regular-season and tournament championships in 2024.

Tennessee won its fifth SEC Tournament title in program history and the second under seventh-year head coach Tony Vitello.

PHOTOS: A look at Tony Vitello through the years

Tennessee announces starting pitcher for SEC Tournament title game

Tennessee baseball announces starting pitcher for the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday against LSU.

No. 1 seed (49-11) Tennessee announced its starting pitcher for the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game on Sunday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

AJ Russell (0-1) will start for the Vols against No. 11 seed LSU (40-20).

Russell has appeared in five contests for Tennessee this season. He recorded 21 strikeouts and a 4.73 ERA. Russell made his first appearance on Wednesday since March 23.

The 6-foot-6, 207-pound sophomore is from Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee.

First pitch between the Vols and Tigers its slated for 3 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

Live stream on Fubo TV

READ: One interesting fact about every 2024 Tennessee baseball player

Photos of Vols’ elimination game win against Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament

A look at photos of Tennessee baseball’s elimination game win against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (49-11) eliminated No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (38-22), 6-4, in the Southeastern Conference Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama on Saturday.

“Obviously, if you’re fortunate enough to get to this portion of the tournament, pitching is at a premium, as is energy level and stuff like that,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said. “You just got to grit it out, and our team followed Zander’s (Sechrist) lead today, so we were blessed to have him out there.”

The Vols advance to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday versus No. 11 seed LSU. First pitch between Tennessee and the Tigers is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

Below are photos of Tennessee’s win against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday.

How to watch Tennessee-LSU championship game

A look at what time and TV channel the Tennessee-LSU SEC Tournament baseball championship game is on Sunday.

The Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game will be contested on Sunday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (49-11) will play No. 11 seed LSU (40-20) at 3 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

Live stream on Fubo TV

The Vols will play for its fifth SEC Tournament championship in program history and the second under head coach Tony Vitello.

LSU leads the all time series against Tennessee, 63-32. The Vols completed at three-game series sweep versus LSU during the regular-season. Vitello is 10-7 against the Tigers as Tennessee’s head coach since 2018.

PHOTOS: A look at Tony Vitello through the years

Vols defeat Vanderbilt, advance to SEC title game

Tennessee baseball defeats Vanderbilt and advances to the SEC title game.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (49-11) defeated No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (38-22), 6-4, on Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.

The contest was an elimination game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

Zander Sechrist (3-1) started for Tennessee and pitched six innings. He recorded five strikeouts. Sechrist totaled 80 pitches, including 57 strikes, against 23 batters.

Marcus Phillips pitched three innings in relief and earned his third save this season.

Tennessee totaled 10 hits against Vanderbilt, including a home run by Christian Moore.

Tennessee advances to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday against LSU. First pitch between the Vols and Tigers is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

TO THE SHIP!!#GBO // #OTH // #VolsWin pic.twitter.com/R1KxGuN8FY

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 26, 2024

How to watch Tennessee-Vanderbilt baseball game

How to watch the Tennessee-Vanderbilt baseball game on Saturday in the SEC Tournament.

No. 1 seed Tennessee (48-11) will play an elimination game against No. 8 seed Vanderbilt (38-20) on Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.

First pitch between the Vols and Commodores is slated for 4:30 p.m. EDT and will be televised by SEC Network.

The winner will advance to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday (3 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).

Live stream on Fubo TV

Tennessee leads the all time series against the Commodores, 186-166-2, dating to May 10, 1897.

The Vols won a three-game series, 2-1, at Vanderbilt during the regular-season. Vanderbilt defeated Tennessee, 13-4, on Wednesday in the SEC Tournament.

PHOTOS: A look at Tony Vitello through the years