The Genesis Invitational Matchups Picks
February 16, 2022
Daytona 500 Preview and Prediction
February 16, 2022
A different team has either won or shared the SEC regular-season title each of the last four seasons. In 2018, Auburn and Tennessee shared bragging rights. In 2019, LSU took home the title for the first time since 2009. Then it was Kentucky’s time to shine in 2020 even though COVID wiped out both the conference and NCAA tournaments. Then last season, it was Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide that hoisted the hardware in a memorable season that saw them win the regular-season title and cut down the nets in the SEC tournament. Like many other power conferences this season, the SEC is top-heavy with less than a handful of teams that linemakers currently believe have a shot to take home the SEC’s 2021-22 regular-season title. It’s basically a race between Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas with the quadrant representing the only teams offering up less than 10-1 returns on investment. I’d be shocked if anyone other than those four teams came from out of nowhere to earn college basketball bettors a payday at SugarHouse Sportsbook come the first week of March. Without further ado, here are my favorite, underdog, and longshot selections to win the regular-season title in the SEC.
SEC Title Odds at SugarHouse Sportsbook
Auburn -670
Kentucky +450
Tennessee +1500
Arkansas +5500
Mississippi State +10000
Alabama +15000
LSU +15000
Florida +15000
Texas A&M +20000
Missouri +30000
Vanderbilt +30000
South Carolina +50000
Ole Miss +50000
Georgia +75000
Favorite to Bet: Auburn Tigers -670
Bruce Pearl is once again the toast of the SEC with his kids sitting in the catbird seat with six games to play. With the tiebreaker over Kentucky already under the belt and possessing two wins more than the Vols, it would take a choke of epic proportions for the Tigers to relinquish their stranglehold of the SEC regular-season title. It exhibiting an ability to win both at home (15-1) and on the road (8-1) certainly has it set up to win the SEC championship for the first time since 2018 when it shared it with the Vols. Armed with the nation’s No. 3 ranked offensive efficiency behind only Gonzaga and Purdue, the Tigers’ method to the madness stems from its ability to force turnovers (No. 70) and then get out in transition playing to the nation’s No. 66 ranked tempo. It’s got a PTPer in Jabari Smith (15.2 PPG) whom many believe could be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. But he’s backed by three other double-digit scorers in K.D. Johnson (13.0 PPG), Wendell Green Jr. (12.7 PPG), and Walker Kessler (11.6 PPG) with each proving they could go HAM any given game. Auburn closes the season out with three at home and three on the road against Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi State. Remain undefeated and win that game in Knoxville, and it’s likely the regular-season title is locked up with a week to spare. Anything can happen over the next two and a half weeks, but the Tigers look to be in a good place to see it all the way through.
Underdog to Bet: Kentucky Wildcats +450
When 100 percent healthy, I’m not sure there’s a team in the country that can combat what KY Jelly brings to the hardwood! John Calipari has concocted the perfect mixture of young talent and veteran portal transfers to create one of the more devastating lineups CBB bettors have been lucky enough to witness. It seems like someone different steps up every passing game to lead the Wildcats to victory. Unfortunately, the injury bug has been unkind. Tyty Washington has been in and out of the lineup with numerous ailments, while CJ Fredrick has been unable to stay healthy throughout his brief stay in Lexington. Regardless, it hasn’t prevented the team from ranking out as one of the toughest of all 358 teams. Oscar Tshiebwe is in the midst of an enormous season that’s seen him average over 16 points and 15 rebounds per game. Should he take his game to the NBA, he’ll be a surefire top-end lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Then there’s Davidson transfer Kellan Grady who’s shooting an insane 43.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Pomeroy Ratings have the Wildcats clocking in as the third-best team in the land behind Gonzaga and Arizona; two spots ahead of conference fav Auburn. That being said, they’re two games in back of the Tigers after losing the lone meeting between the teams back in late January. Its remaining schedule isn’t easy with road trips to Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida, but it’s doable. That however is the reason why such a good team is paying off at nearly 5-1.
Longshot to Bet: Tennessee Volunteers +1500
You can flip a coin with either Tennessee or Arkansas as the long shot dart throw. The teams still have two meetings remaining with the first set to go down in Fayetteville on February 19. The Vols got Kentucky and Auburn at home over the next 11 days, while Arkansas has Kentucky and Tennessee at home over that same stretch. The Hogs simply have the higher hill to climb and tougher schedule to entertain the thought of investing in that near 6-1 return. On top of that, its recent win streak took advantage of the lesser teams in the conference before sneaking out an 80-76 OT home win over Auburn. Rick Barnes’ squad has taken the same route beating up on in-conference dregs to get back into the regular season title race. Bottom line, you’re likely better off taking a Bic to whatever monies you want to put on a team other than Auburn or Kentucky cashing in on the SEC title odds this season. My recommendation is to not waste your time or hard-earned cash, but buy some Volunteers shares if you feel like taking the gamble.
