Looking at the midweek SEC basketball games, there aren't many where I'd say that the favorite is a lock to win. This could be quite the interesting slate of games.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Kentucky at Tennessee, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
So after having said that, I do think this is one where the better team has a strong likelihood of winning. Unless UK just suffers some kind of terrible hangover from having lost in OT to Kansas, the 'Cats should take care of business here against the Vols.
LSU at Auburn, 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network
It takes something to get Ben Simmons off of ESPN, and that something is apparently Auburn. Anyway, the Plainsmen have a trio of conference home wins in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. That is actually a more substantive set of wins than some other, better SEC teams have. I'll not calling for an AU outright win here, but I trust Kentucky more than I do LSU to come back from a heartbreaking loss. Then again, LSU's tenuous NCAA Tournament hopes probably can't absorb a loss here, so it should have some motivation.
South Carolina at Georgia, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
UGA is a different team at home. Aside from getting blasted by Texas A&M in mid-January, the Bulldogs' home slate looks pretty good with wins over Georgia Tech, Clemson, Tennessee, and Arkansas and a two-point loss to Kansas State. South Carolina's road performances in SEC play have left something to be desired, with losses to Bama and Tennessee, an OT win over a shorthanded Ole Miss, and a lone nice win over Auburn. Far stranger things have happened.
Alabama at Mississippi State, 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network
MSU moved ahead of Missouri in the conference standings by beating the Tigers over the weekend. It can move up again by beating Alabama in a battle of 2-6 teams.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Arkansas at Florida, 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network
The hard luck Hogs finally figured out how to win close games last week, beating Texas A&M by three and Texas Tech in overtime. Winning in the O'Dome has been a pretty tall task for visitors this season, though, with the Gators' only home loss coming in the last seconds to FSU. Florida's offense has woken up in the past couple of weeks, so that combined with Arkansas's Big Three could make this one higher scoring than you might expect.
Ole Miss at Missouri, 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network
It seems odd that the SEC Network is devoting four hours on National Signing Day to basketball, but here we are. After starting league play 1-1, Mizzou's season is really getting away from it. The Tigers have lost six in a row, with only one loss being by one possession. Ole Miss is looking to continue righting the ship after four losses in a row that partly were caused by injuries. Beating Auburn and nearly knocking off K-State were good steps; not losing to MU would be another.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Texas A&M at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
After taking a hiatus last week, the Thursday night SEC game is back with a vengeance. Vandy is currently outside the projected tournament field, showing up on SBN's list of considered teams and in ESPN's first four out. The Commodores picked up a big home win a week ago in defeating Florida, but it would be even bigger to snag a home victory over the league leading Aggies. A&M is riding high after receiving from the Arkansas loss with a win over Iowa State, but all three of the team's losses have come away from home. How generous is TAMU feeling?