2012 SEC Tournament Basketball Predictions & Schedule

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The 2012 SEC Tournament is set to get underway Thursday, March 8 and will conclude Sunday, March 11. Below, I have laid out the tournament schedule and made my predictions on how I see it shaking out.

Round 1 – Thursday, March 8

Game 1 – #8 LSU vs. #9 Arkansas: Arkansas lost seven of its last nine games, including a 71-65 defeat at LSU on Feb. 4. There should be plenty of LSU fans on hand in New Orleans to make this feel like a home away from home for the Tigers. LSU advances.

Game 2 – #5 Alabama vs. #12 South Carolina: The Tide enter the conference tournament playing well. They have won four of their last five and seven of their last 10. South Carolina, meanwhile, has lost five in a row and 10 of its last 11. The Gamecocks did defeat the Tide at 56-54 at home this season, but I expect Alabama to have its revenge here.

Game 3 – #7 Ole Miss vs. #10 Auburn: The Rebels enter the conference tourney with momentum on their side after closing out the regular season with three straight wins. They’ll keep rolling against an Auburn squad that limps in with six losses in its last eight games.

Game 4 – #6 Mississippi State vs. #11 Georgia: Mississippi State endured a shocking five-game losing streak in February but put it behind with a pair of wins to close out the regular season. One of those February losses was a 70-68 overtime defeat to Georgia. Mississippi State is the better side and will use that loss as motivation.

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 9

Game 5 – #8 LSU vs. #1 Kentucky: The Wildcats ran the table in the SEC with a 16-0 record. One of those victories was a 74-50 win at LSU. The cats should make rather easy work of the Tigers again here.

Game 6 – #5 Alabama vs. #4 Florida: The Gators won the regular season meeting 61-52 at Alabama on Feb. 14, but the Tide weren’t at full strength for that one. With JaMychal Green back from suspension and playing well, I like Alabama here against the struggling Gators.

Game 7 – #7 Ole Miss vs. #2 Tennessee: The Vols have the look of a dangerous team entering the SEC tournament. They have won four straight and eight of their last nine with a 13-point win over Mississippi on Feb. 22. Look for the Vols to keep rolling.

Game 8 – #6 Mississippi State vs. #3 Vanderbilt: Vandy lost its regular season meeting with Mississippi State by one point in overtime, and I expect it to avenge that loss here. I think Vandy has underachieved a little bit this season and will come alive in this tournament.

Semifinals – Saturday, March 10

Game 9 – #1 Kentucky vs. #5 Alabama: The Tide played out of their minds in the first half when these two met on Feb. 21, but it was all Kentucky in the second half. The Wildcats went on to win that game by six points and should be able to pull off another one here.

Game 10 – #2 Tennessee vs. #3 Vanderbilt: The Commodores crushed Tennessee 65-47 on Jan. 24 but then lost to the Vols 68-61 in their regular season finale. That loss, and wanting another shot at Kentucky, will drive the more experienced Commodores to the championship game.

Championship – Sunday, March 11

Game 11 – #1 Kentucky vs. #3 Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt played Kentucky as tough as anyone in the SEC this season, but I believe it will come up short again. The Wildcats have won the last two conference tournament titles and will be driven by an opportunity to finish without a loss to an SEC team.

Jimmy Boyd is regarded as one of the best March Madness handicappers in the industry. Score big with a proven winner this March!

About the Author: Jimmy Boyd is known for his consistency. He's a proven winner in college and pro football, college and pro basketball and pro baseball. He finished as the No. 1 ranked MLB handicapper in 2007 by earning $1,000/game bettors $50,050. He also finished as the No. 1 ranked basketball handicapper in the 2008-09 season, profiting $1,000/game bettors 38,530. His basketball plays have banked $1,000/game bettors nearly $80,000 the last five years. Check out Jimmy's premium picks for tonight!
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