Gators Take on Vols at SEC Semis
The SEC Tournament semifinals are two of the most intriguing games of the day in college basketball. What makes the SEC Tournament intriguing? Mostly it has been its lack of intrigue. When the Tennessee Volunteers knocked off the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second semifinal of the day, Cinderella went home. Now after the Georgia Bulldogs sent home the defending champion Ole Miss Rebels in the final game of the day, all four top seeds are in today’s semifinal
The big questions that will be answered today are:
1. Will the #1 Florida Gators extend their winning streak to 25 in a row? The Gators slept through the first half against the Missouri Tigers and found themselves in a two point game with 11:00 to go. After that they went on a 34-13 run. If the last 11:00 Gators show up at the tip, the Vols will see their five game win streak end. If Patric Young and Wil Yeguete can play Jerronne Maymon and Jarnelle Stokes to a standstill, then it comes down to Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin and Michael Frazier against Jordan McRae, Will Barton and company. Throw in the UF bench and it looks like a UF win. But if Stokes and Maymon control the paint, then Tennessee has a chance to pull the upset. Either way, the Vols should be safely in the Big Dance.
2. Will the Kentucky Wildcats of last night’s quarterfinal win over the LSU Tigers come back or the Kentucky team of the last five weeks rear it’s ugly head? If last night’s UK team shows up again today, they will win easily over the Bulldogs. IF UK reverts back to their previous selves, UGA has a great chance to upset them. Georgia did not have all of their players when the two teams met at Rupp Arena because Kenny Gaines was out with an injury. UK may not take them seriously enough after that whipping earlier in the year.
3. How will the officials call the games? Yesterday, the refs were letting a lot go especially in the paint. Missouri was able to stay in the game with the Gators for so long because they are a big, physical team and the refs were letting a lot of mugging go. If the games are called this way again today, one would think that bodes well for Tennessee and Kentucky. Both of those teams have guys in the paint that can take over. Julius Randle and Stokes are both capable of a 20 points, 20 rebounds game if they stay out of foul trouble.
Unlike the Big 12 Tournament where the Kansas Jayhawks are gone or the ACC Tournament where there is no more Syracuse Orange or North Carolina Tar Heels, the top teams in the SEC are all in action today.
BetDSI has the odds on today’s SEC Tournament action:
Tennessee vs Florida– Tennessee is +6 -110 and Florida is -6 -110 ATS. Moneyline is UT +220 ad UF -265. We like the Gators -6 -110. This time of the year the #1s are usually tough to beat.
Georgia vs Kentucky– Georgia is +7.5 -110 and Kentucky is -7.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is UGA +290 and UK -350. We are going to take Georgia +7.5 -110 and Kentucky -350. We like UK to win a close one.
