2023 SEC Tournament: First & Second Round Predictions

The 2023 SEC Tournament is here, and ladies and gentlemen, it is March.

Before heading into the big dance, let’s preview the first and second rounds of the 2023 SEC Tournament and get some early predictions going.

2023 SEC Tournament First & Second Round Predictions

(12) South Carolina vs. (13) Ole Miss 

The South Carolina Gamecocks wrapped up its regular season with a 61-55 win over the Georgia Bulldogs on March 4, bringing its overall record to 11-20.

Ole Miss finished its season with a loss to Missouri in Columbia, MO. on March 4, which brought its final record to 11-20.

So, both teams are coming in with an 11-20 record which is one of the reasons this matchup is going to be a tough one to pick.

Gregory (G.G.) Jackson has taken the reigns for the Gamecocks and is leading his team in points with 15.1 per game.

Ole Miss’ points leader is Matthew Murrell who is averaging 14.9 points per game.

I am going to take the Gamecocks in this first-round matchup, 74-69.

(11) Georgia vs. (14) LSU

Moving on to an easier matchup in my opinion, the Bulldogs and Tigers.

Georgia is 16-15 and coming into the 2023 SEC Tournament on a five-game losing streak.

LSU is 13-18 and finished losing four out of its last five.

LSU started the 2022-23 campaign winning 12 out of its first 13 games and that one loss was to Kansas State who has now ranked No. 16 in the week 18 rankings, and is a No. 3 seed in the 2023 Big 12 Tournament.

LSU has fallen down drastically since then and I am going with the Georgia Bulldogs in this matchup, 77-65.

(8) Florida vs. (9) Mississippi State

The Florida Gators are without star center Colin Castleton for the rest of the year as he suffered a broken hand against Ole Miss on Feb. 15.

This is a huge blow for Florida as Castleton was the heartbeat of the Gators.

Florida is 16-15 and Mississippi State is 20-11.

Mississippi State has more to play for at this time of the year as the Bulldogs are considered a bubble team right now.

A win over Florida obviously would not guarantee a March Madness bid but a deep SEC Tournament run may solidify its chances.

I am taking Mississippi State in this game, 81-76.

(5) Tennessee vs. (Winner of USC vs. Ole Miss)

The Volunteers are stranded without Zakai Zeigler this March as he tore his ACL minutes into Tennessee’s showdown with the Arkansas Razorbacks in Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 28.

The Volunteers are 22-9 and still have other threats such as Santiago Vescovi and Uros Plavsic.

Whether it is South Carolina or Ole Miss, this Volunteer team is too strong to be defeated early on, therefore I am picking Tennessee over USC/Ole Miss.

(7) Auburn vs. (10) Arkansas

This is an interesting 2023 SEC Tournament second round matchup because Arkansas has dropped its last three games and is not performing the way most analysts predicted them to.

However, one of those three recent losses was to No. 2 ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa in which Arkansas only lost by three points.

The Hogs are overwhelmed with freshman talent with players like Jordan Walsh, Anthony Black, and Nick Smith Jr., and all three have crucially stepped up recently.

Auburn is in a more comfortable spot momentum-wise as they are coming off a 79-70 win over No. 12 ranked Tennessee.

Johni Broome is leading the Tigers in points, averaging 14 per game.

Broome has scored double-digit points in Auburn’s last six games and I expect him to keep that streak up.

However, I think Arkansas will upset the Tigers, and I think this win will spark a deep March run for the Razorbacks.

I am taking Arkansas, 79-77.

(6) Vanderbilt vs. (Winner of Georgia vs. LSU)

Concluding the second round with Vanderbilt and the winner of Georgia vs. LSU.

The 18-13 Commodores are coming into the game with a three-game win streak under its belt.

Liam Robbins has put up stellar numbers for Vanderbilt as he has scored 20+ points in Vanderbilt’s last four of six, but will be unavailable due to injury.

No matter the outcome of Georgia and LSU, I think Vanderbilt will get it done and move on in the tournament.