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It’s Saturday! The second to last Saturday of the season! So let’s get into the action!
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern; All odds from FanDuel/Action Network)
Texas A&M Aggies vs. LSU Tigers
Time: Noon
TV: ESPN2
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: LSU -11.5
Total: 141.5
Moneyline: N/A
LSU’s 8-0 start is very much a thing of the past. The Tigers have gone 2-5 in their last seven games, and have lost three of their last four entering play on Saturday. They’ll be welcoming a Texas A&M squad who lost to Kentucky earlier in the week, but only did so by nine points. Prior to that they’d knocked off Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi State consecutively.
It’s clear that Buzz Williams’ team has been playing much better ball of late, and that could make things interesting for LSU. The game is at PMAC, which should benefit the Tigers, who’ve lost just once in SEC play at their home dwelling. But they are 1-6 ATS at home in SEC play, while the Aggies are 5-2 ATS on the road. And LSU is a mighty heavy favorite.
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Ole Miss Rebels
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Ole Miss -11
Total: 140.5
Moneyline: N/A
Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are two teams trending down at the wrong time. Ole Miss is in the midst of a rough four-game losing streak and Vandy ain’t much better, having lost their last six games in a row. It’s tough not to side with Ole Miss in this one. The Rebels defense has played very well, even if their record might not show it.
Vandy’s defense is something of a sieve, and while Ole Miss’ offense is nothing to show for, they’ll likely have an easier time putting the ball in the hoop and scoring than Vandy will. Especially given that Ole Miss’ perimeter defense is one of the best in the nation. One area that might be vulnerable though is inside, and if Vandy can create enough opportunities there, then they may pull off the upset.
Ole Miss is 4-2-1 ATS at home in SEC play so far. But, it’s worth noting perhaps that they’ve only been a home favorite in SEC play twice, and they split those games down the middle. Vandy, meanwhile, has been 4-3 ATS on the road so far.
Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Florida -1
Total: 130.5
Moneyline: N/A
Florida bounced back from a tough loss at UK with a win over LSU earlier in the week. So the Gators string of good ball continued, as they racked up their sixth win in their last eight games. They take that run into Knoxville, where they’re a slight favorite over the Vols. Tennessee is pretty desperate for a quality win, especially after their rough loss at Auburn last week and a drubbing against Arkansas earlier this week. This one will be incredibly interesting, as Florida’s offense is playing against a very stout UT defense. UT’s offense, or lack thereof, may come to haunt them against a very stingy Gator defense. A proverbial coin flip this could become though. And a fun one it might be.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Missouri Tigers
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Missouri -1.5
Total: 138.5
Moneyline: N/A
Winners of four of their last six games, Mizzou comes into this game riding a bit of a hot streak. The Tigers, on the heels of a 61-52 win over Vandy, are slight favorites over Mississippi State on Saturday. This despite the fact that the Bulldogs have been playing very good ball lately themselves. They too are 4-2 in their last six and 6-3 in their last nine games. But they’ve been a bit porous on the road lately. They’ve lost last three road games in their last four outings, and their road win over Arkansas two weeks ago was by just one point. Mizzou, meanwhile, has been a menace at home lately, having won their last four games there outright, five of their last six and seven of the last nine. Might be something worth watching.
Auburn Tigers vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Time: 3:45 p.m.
TV: CBS
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Kentucky -6
Total: 141.5
Moneyline: N/A
With three games to play, Kentucky holds a two-game advantage over Auburn in the SEC standings. The 13-2 Wildcats play the 11-4 Tigers at Rupp, a rematch of an earlier showdown this season which the Tigers tagged UK with a 75-66 loss. UK has won seven in a row since, and have still been relatively unscathed in SEC play obviously. Auburn meanwhile continues to be pretty topsy-turvy. Despite their uproarious comeback over Tennessee and a 67-58 win against Ole Miss earlier this week, some are still out on them because of how they’ve played on the whole. Kentucky’s a pretty healthy six-point favorite here, and they’ve won three games in a row ATS and six of the last seven.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Arkansas -1
Total: 149
Moneyline: N/A
Arkansas has rebounded from their lengthy losing streak to win their last two coming into Saturday. The Hogs travel to Athens to face a Georgia team that lost in OT to South Carolina earlier this week to snap a brief two-game win streak. Containing star Anthony Edwards will be the primary point of emphasis for Arkansas of course. Georgia won their last home outing against Auburn and is 2-2 in general at Stegeman Coliseum in their last four home games, with losses to south Carolina and a three-point OT loss to Alabama. Arkansas, meanwhile, is looking to end a three-game road losing streak, as they’ve lost their last outings to Mizzou, Tennessee and Florida consecutively.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Watch Online: WatchESPN
Spread: Alabama -5
Total: 159
Moneyline: N/A
South Carolina and Alabama will round out the day of SEC hoops. ‘Bama has been very skittish lately, going 3-4 in their last seven games and 3-6 over their last nine. Not the kind of run you want to go on when March is approaching to say the very least. South Carolina got tripped up by Mississippi State and LSU last week, but got back on track with an OT win against Georgia earlier this week. They’re now 4-2 in their last six and 7-3 in their last 10 games heading into play. This feels like a game with two teams trending in opposite directions. Alabama is still a hearty favorite at home. SC is 1-2 outright in their last three road games. ‘Bama has also been a really strong bet at home, going 10-6 ATS. But, they are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games at home. SC, meanwhile? They are 5-2 in SEC play ATS away from Columbia.