The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the best teams in the SEC this season. So, it should come as no surprise that Tennessee sportsbooks have them listed with great odds to win the SEC tournament. However, at DraftKings Tennessee, Kentucky is favored to win (+190), followed by Auburn (+260). Tennessee (+330) is third.
With the top three so close together, Vols fans must wonder what the future holds. Could this be the year Tennessee ends its conference tournament draught? Can the Vols win it for the fifth time overall and for the first time since 1979?
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SEC Tournament Odds
Tennessee had a solid regular season finishing with a 14-4 conference record (23-7 overall). The Vols tied with Kentucky for the second-best conference record and a game behind Auburn’s 15-3 conference mark. All three will head into tournament play inside the top 10 in the AP Poll.
| SEC Conference Tournament Winner | DraftKings | BetMGM | Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | +190 | +175 | +190 | +200 |
| Auburn | +260 | +260 | +260 | +270 |
| Tennessee | +330 | +325 | +350 | +370 |
| Arkansas | +750 | +750 | +800 | +700 |
| LSU | +1000 | +1200 | +1000 | +1100 |
| Alabama | +1500 | +1400 | +1800 | +1600 |
| Florida | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 | +6000 |
| Mississippi State | +5000 | +5000 | +4000 | +4500 |
| Texas A&M | +7000 | +10000 | +7500 | +5500 |
| South Carolina | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +12000 |
| Vanderbilt | +25000 | +25000 | +10000 | +20000 |
| Ole Miss | +50000 | +50000 | +20000 | +49000 |
| Missouri | +50000 | +50000 | +25000 | +49000 |
| Georgia | +50000 | +50000 | +25000 | +49000 |
Is It Tennessee’s Time?
Vols fans will want to say it is, and they just might be right. Tennessee will enter the tournament with wins in nine of their last 10 games, including victories over Kentucky, Auburn, and Arkansas. That momentum should help them make quick work of either South Carolina or Mississippi State in one of Friday’s quarterfinals.
However, they will need more than momentum to get past Kentucky in the semis, which is where their second-ranked SEC defense will come in handy. The Tennessee defense has been holding opponents to about 63 points a game this season. That happens to be how much Kentucky scored when the Vols beat them on Feb. 15.
Tennessee will likely face Arkansas or Auburn in the finals if they make it past the Wildcats. It is worth noting that while the Tigers were the hottest team in the conference for much of the season, they stumbled down the stretch with a 3-6-1 record against the spread.
Statistically, the Vols are not the best in the SEC at anything but are pretty good at almost everything except for free throws. So, as long as the game does not come down to who shoots better from the line, Tennessee has a chance.
Betting Analysis
When it comes to the SEC tournament, thoughts first go to the Kentucky Wildcats — the betting favorite. With the SEC’s best offense and fourth-ranked defense, it is not hard to see them win it all. However, when it comes to Auburn — bettor beware! The Tigers made a ton of noise early in the season, but the Tigers have picked a bad time to struggle.
Don’t be shocked to see Auburn lose to Arkansas in the semifinals.
As for the Vols, they will win their quarterfinal matchup and face Kentucky in the semifinals. The Vols are capable of beating the Wildcats, but it is not going to be an easy win for either team. Should they make it past Kentucky, the Vols will probably be the favorite in the finals against Arkansas.
