SEC Tournament Betting Guide: Who Will Step Up in Nashville?

SEC Tournament Best Bet: Tennessee (+185)

This season doesn't feel like old Tennessee teams. The metrics support that this edition has the offense to compete with the best in the country, especially for an SEC title. Knecht also isn't getting there on volume. He is constantly bailing this team out of its droughts, creating good looks for himself, and proving that he is the skeleton key that has been needed to unlock Tennessee's potential. We're going chalk down south and backing the Volunteers to hoist the trophy on Sunday afternoon.

SEC Tournament Favorite: Tennessee (+185)

Tennessee's offensive struggles in recent years have found its antidote, and it's come in the form of a JUCO product and transfer from Northern Colorado. Dalton Knecht has improbably been the second-best player in the sport behind Purdue's Zach Edey as the runaway Player of the Year in the conference. The Volunteers have done well to maintain the defensive intensity they always have this season while pumping out enough offense to rack up enough big-time wins to be in contention for a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jonas Aidoo has stepped up in a big way to bolster this frontcourt, something you need in this league. He has reached double-figures in ten of Tennessee's previous 11 games.

SEC Tournament Challenger: Auburn (+260)

Auburn is the only team at the top of the league that can match the defensive capability that Tennessee poses on a given night. The two only faced once in the regular season just two weeks back, where the Vols required a career outing from Knecht in order to hold off the Tigers. Johni Broome is one of the best big men in the sport and currently ranks second in KenPom.com's Player of the Year rankings. The biggest concern here is the backcourt. The Tigers lack any sort of reliable firepower from their grouping of guards, and it can limit their ability to score in more ways than one.

SEC Tournament Dark Horse: Kentucky (+360)

The key question, as it has been all season long, will be if Kentucky can defend at a high enough level to make a run in this field. The Wildcats seem to have improved a bit towards the backend of the season, but they are still nowhere near where they need to be if they want to string together a few wins in Nashville. That being said, the talent here is undeniable. Reed Sheppard is making a case for being the best freshman in the country, while Rob Dillingham is a microwave wing that can put a game on its head whenever he chooses. The Wildcats are young and inconsistent at times, but their ceiling is as high as it gets in the country.

SEC Tournament Best Bet: Tennessee (+185)

This season doesn't feel like old Tennessee teams. The metrics support that this edition has the offense to compete with the best in the country, especially for an SEC title. Knecht also isn't getting there on volume. He is constantly bailing this team out of its droughts, creating good looks for himself, and proving that he is the skeleton key that has been needed to unlock Tennessee's potential. We're going chalk down south and backing the Volunteers to hoist the trophy on Sunday afternoon.