Welcome to Atlanta!

The SEC tournament is once again being played in the Georgia Dome in the heart of Atlanta. 

So let’s go ahead and get right into it, and I’ll tell you what to expect.  I’ll give you the dirt on what players will be taking there school’s female cheerleaders up to their rooms and I’ll tell you which Florida players are not taking the male cheerleaders back to their rooms.  I’ll also update you on what times to avoid I-75 when Kentucky and Tenessee fans begin their yearly northward traffic jams following the inevitable losses of their teams.

But first let’s get the boring stuff about the games, the players, and my predictions for the tournament.

Game 1 – South Carolina vs. LSU

Yes they decided to give you plenty of time to hang out in the bars of Atlanta and get good and drunk before the real games being.  LSU is actually playing some of their best ball since Brady got canned.  They made a late surge past Auburn and Alabama to get 4th in the West.  The Cocks are playing in what could be Dave Odom’s last game.  With identical overall records, Vegas has called this game a tossup, and I’m inclined to do so as well, but South Carolina is a team that plays it’s best ball at the right time of the year and makes runs in the SEC tournament.  USC is going to be taking another shot at Tennessee in a repeat of their regular season finale.

Game 2 – Auburn vs. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt is a team that shouldn’t be where they are in the East.  They shouldn’t be playing in the first round, but here we are.  Vanderbilt is favored by 8 points over Auburn, but they let Alabama take them down in the season finale.  Vanderbilt is a team that historically struggles in the SEC tournament, but they shouldn’t have to face a let down against Auburn, especially with SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster.

Game 3 – Alabama vs. Florida

Florida is not a team like they have been for the last 2 years, but they are still a strong team.  All season they only have one head scratching loss to LSU with the rest of their play being very consistent.  The only other knock on them coming into this game is a 3 game skid against the 3 best teams in the conference.  Alabama is a team that doesn’t have  the will nor the talent to win.  I’m giving the game to Florida.

Game 4 – Georgia vs. Ole Miss

UGA is another team that historically loses in the SEC tourney even though they are playing in their own backyard.  Ole Miss is a very weak 7-9 in the SEC, but nearly a shoe-in to beat the bulldawgs.

I won’t get too in-depth for the rest of my predictions, but if I have time in Atlanta I’ll give daily updates.  Tennessee will advance over South Carolina.
Vanderbilt will take down Arkansas
Mississippi St. will beat Florida
Kentucky will beat Ole Miss

Day 3
Tennessee over Vandy
Miss. St. over Kentucky

Finals
Tennessee over Miss. St.

Tournament Guide

Now if you’ve never been to a tournament you will be shocked to find that the only SEC basketball fans are Kentucky fans.  The streets of Atlanta run blue.  The Cat-faithful not only show up in full force, they attend in full force.  When the bourbon swilling fans aren’t drinking in bars or nailing their immediate family members, they are watching basketball games.  Not just their games either.  You’ll find them in attendance whenever any team plays cheering for the teams they feel they have the best chance to beat.  Don’t worry though.  Mississippi St. will send them packing Saturday evening.  The smell they leave should have dissippated by the time the finals crank up on Sunday.

The rest of the fans are pretty tolerable.  South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama fans will most likely try to avoid your gaze on Thursday.  Be kind to them and don’t wear your team colors too proudly.  Else you may make them feel dead inside just like their post-season hopes.

The SEC Dr. Pepper Fanfare is a lot of fun.  Challenge a rival fan to a basketball showdown and swear that the outcome of your match won’t affect the outcome of the game when you realize that it’s a former Ole Miss Basketball player you decided to take on.

Well, that about wraps up my coverage for Thursday at the SEC Tournament.  Hopefully you’ll be hearing from me on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.