SEC Tournament Betting Odds, Picks (Wednesday, March 11): Georgia-Ole Miss, Arkansas-Vanderbilt

SEC Tournament Betting Odds, Picks (Wednesday, March 11): Georgia-Ole Miss, Arkansas-Vanderbilt article feature image
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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images. Pictured: Mason Jones

  • Updated betting odds for Wednesday's Georgia vs. Ole Miss SEC Tournament matchup have the Rebels favored by 3 points, and an over/under of 144.
  • In the later tip, Arkansas is now a 9.5-point favorite over Vanderbilt with a total of 147.5.
  • Check out Collin Wilson's betting breakdown for each game below, complete with full matchup analysis and a betting pick on each SEC game.

The year was 1992 and the SEC Conference Tournament was held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Arkansas and South Carolina were the new kids on the block in the SEC, and Birmingham was flooded with Razorback fans. While football was the reason for conference realignment, basketball was the immediate benefactor.

While the excitement was there with the addition of a Final Four Arkansas team, this was and always has been Kentucky's tournament.

Only seven times since 1992 has Kentucky not played in the SEC title game.

This year, the Wildcats draw the top overall seed in what should be a wide-open five days of action from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The full SEC Tournament bracket pic.twitter.com/jgjQ5w0MGv

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) March 8, 2020

SEC Tournament First Round

No. 13 Georgia vs. No. 12 Ole Miss

  • Spread: Ole Miss -2.5
  • Total: 144
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: SEC Network

This will be the second time Georgia has played Ole Miss this season, with the Rebels winning outright as 6.5-point underdogs on Jan. 25.

Ole Miss shot 52% from the field including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Despite outrebounding the Rebels by a margin of 10, Georgia shot below 31% from the field. Ole Miss is third in the SEC in adjusted defensive efficiency, creating tough shooting nights for most of the SEC.

Georgia won just a single road game this season, a game (at Vanderbilt). The Bulldogs have fielded the worst defensive team in the SEC  by adjusted defensive efficiency ratings. Particularly, Georgia has allowed the SEC to shoot 55.2% from 2-point territory. Ole Miss's highest rank in point distribution comes from 2-point range.

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Georgia also likes to go down to the blocks for its points, ranking first in the SEC in 2-point shooting percentage.

Ole Miss is middle of the pack defensively from inside the arc, but does field one of the best squads in steals. Georgia has had issues with turnover rate at times with Sahvir Wheeler and Jordan Harris. Freshman Anthony Edwards has the ability to take over games, but must have elite ball protection to get a Bulldogs victory.

Both Ole Miss and Georgia will have the ability to pound the rock in the paint, so that's a wash.

And despite shooting just 2 of 17 from beyond the arc last Saturday against Mississippi State, the Rebels should have no issues shooting against a poor Georgia defense. The Rebels defense will be the difference, as Edwards was held to just 13 points on a 3 for 12 shooting night from the field in their first matchup.

Pick: Ole Miss -3 or better

No. 14 Vanderbilt vs. No. 11 Arkansas

  • Spread: Arkansas -8.5
  • Total: 148
  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: SEC Network

All eyeballs will be on the Razorbacks and Gamecocks in the second round, assuming Arkansas cruises against the SEC's worst team. Vanderbilt ended the season on a two-game winning streak against Alabama and South Carolina. It has been a tumultuous season for head coach Jerry Stackhouse, but a 3-15 conference record is an improvement from 0-18 last season.

When Arkansas is rolling, the Hogs are capable of putting big numbers on the board. There is evidence of this in a Jan. 15 game between these two teams. With Mason Jones, the SEC co-player of the year, limited to just seven field goal attempts in the game, Arkansas still won by 20.

The Razorbacks are led by one of the best mid-range shooters in the nation in Jimmy Whitt and long-range shooting from Isaiah Joe. With the addition of a healthy Jones to this game, things could get ugly for Vanderbilt quickly.

The biggest question is how quick coach Eric Musselman will dig into a one of the most shallow bench rotations in all of college basketball. Arkansas ranks 311th in bench minutes, as names like Ethan Henderson and Jeantal Cylla may get increased minutes if the Hogs get a double-digit lead.

Vanderbilt has a great chance to hop back into this game if Musselman elects to go into cruise control with Jones and Joe on the bench.

Arkansas should have plenty of success doing what it does best, from shooting long range and limiting the Commodores on the perimeter. Vanderbilt is one of the few teams in the nation that does not have a rebounding advantage on Arkansas, and that should help Arkansas take a lead.

Look for Musselman to take an early lead pushing tempo, creating a great live betting opportunity for a full game under. Once Arkansas digs into the bench rotation, the scoring will come to a screaming halt.

While I like Arkansas in the first half and a live under, any Razorback number at -9 or better is good, too.

Pick: Arkansas -9 or better

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Sean Treppedi
Mar 28, 2024 UTC