David Leong-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
There are only two Saturdays left before March. SEC teams are battling for conference positioning with double-byes in the SEC Basketball Tournament up for grabs. Florida still stands alone atop the rankings, but behind the Gators are eight teams within one game of each other. Here is our weekly preview of SEC Saturday hoops action.
Bracketology Latest
In Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology, the SEC remains tied with the Big Ten with 11 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament. That’s up one from last week. Several SEC teams are playing with fire though, as Auburn and Texas A&M are currently on the Last Four Byes line and Missouri is one of the last four teams in.
Here’s a look at which teams from the SEC are currently projected in the field and their projected seedings:
No. 3 Florida
No. 4 Alabama
No. 5 Arkansas
No. 5 Tennessee
No. 5 Vanderbilt
No. 6 Kentucky
No. 9 Texas
No. 10 Texas A&M
No. 10 Auburn
No. 10 Georgia
No. 11 Missouri
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 17, 2026
Must See TV
Darius Acuff is the best player in America. Since the start of SEC play, he has scored 20 or more in ten of the Razorbacks 13 games. That includes 20 or more in seven straight and a career high 49 points against Alabama on Wednesday. He has shot 60 percent or better from three-point range in three of his last four games. The freshman can do everything and is appointment viewing.
Arkansas is coming off a loss to Alabama, but is still one of the most dangerous teams in the conference, and Acuff is good enough to lead them deep in the tournament.
Darius Acuff is simply elite. His results against top guard prospects head to head. pic.twitter.com/0Zv5IwP2Yk
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) February 20, 2026
Game of the Week
Tennessee travels to Vanderbilt in a huge game for the conference standings and SEC Tournament seedings. The Vols have owned this rivalry, winning 14 of the last 16. The ‘Dores are favored in this one thanks in part to a 12-2 record at home this season. It’s a clash of styles with Vanderbilt ranked No. 8 in the country in points per game with 88.1 and Tennessee leading the SEC in points allowed per game at 69.2. Vanderbilt has won two of their last three games at home against Tennessee, but both only came by one point.
Students rush the court after #Vanderbilt knocks off #6 Tennessee on a last second buzzer beater, 66-65 pic.twitter.com/bNjQY8GGHW
— Bryce Smith (@BryceSmith_27) February 9, 2023
Who’s on upset alert?
This one may be the easiest pick of the year. On Wednesday, we picked lowly Mississippi State to upset Auburn despite being a 7.5 point underdog. Josh Hubbard went off for 46 points and sank ten three pointers. We’re going to go back to the well here, taking Kentucky to win at Auburn.
The Tigers have lost five straight games, yet they are somehow a 2.5 point favorite over the visiting Wildcats. Usually a line like that is telling that Vegas knows something the rest of us don’t. Against my better judgment, I’m going to stick with my guns and say the sportsbooks out in the desert are wrong about this one. Kentucky hasn’t lost three in a row all season, and Auburn is reeling. Take the Cats.
Kentucky is in for another battle around the rim on Saturday night.
Auburn ranks very highly in the percentage of shots they take at the rim. That also leads to them having one of the highest free throw rates in the country.
The last two games should have the ‘Cats prepared. pic.twitter.com/yHeRSQ5Nk3
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) February 20, 2026
Lock of the Week – Missouri +10.5
The lock of the week is 6-1 so far this season. I love this Arkansas team, and will have them making a deep run in my bracket thanks to Darius Acuff and his supporting cast. The problem is they are very banged up. Only seven players played meaningful minutes Wednesday at Alabama. Three of those seven fouled out in the double-overtime game. Also, Acuff was apparently in a walking boot the two days prior to the game. Take Missouri and the points because 10.5 is a lot.
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