5 most important SEC regular-season men’s basketball games remaining on the schedule
By Adam Spencer
Published:
With the SEC regular season winding down and the conference tournament just weeks away, the standings are a chaotic jumble of contenders, bubble teams, and dark horses.
Florida sits alone atop the league at 11-2 in conference play, but the race for second place — and the all-important seeding implications heading into Nashville for the SEC Tournament — is a genuine free-for-all.
There are plenty of games left that you should circle on your calendars. Here are the 5 games that matter most:
5. Auburn at Alabama — Saturday, March 7
The Iron Bowl of Basketball rivalry never needs extra motivation, but this one carries real stakes. Alabama (9-4 SEC, NET No. 19, AP No. 25) is locked in a 4-way tie for second place and desperately needs wins down the stretch to protect its seeding. Auburn (5-8 SEC, NET No. 32) has been one of the most disappointing teams in the league. The Tigers were a preseason top-10 squad and have stumbled to a 14-12 overall record. For Auburn, this is a pride game and a potential resume-builder against a ranked opponent. For Alabama, a loss here could be devastating to its seeding and NCAA Tournament positioning. The Tide have the home-court edge, but Auburn’s NET ranking means this is a legitimate Quad 1 opportunity for both sides. Expect a war.
Here’s what Kalshi says about the race for the SEC regular season championship. Florida, understandably, is a heavy favorite, but there’s value to be had on Alabama if you think Nate Oats and company can close the gap:
4. Vanderbilt at Kentucky — Saturday, Feb. 28
This is the most underrated game on the remaining schedule. Both Kentucky (8-5 SEC, NET No. 30) and Vanderbilt (8-5 SEC, NET No. 13, AP No. 19) are sitting in the crowded middle of the standings, and a win here could be the difference between a top-4 seed in Nashville and a 5-8 matchup. What makes this especially fascinating is the contrast in profiles: Vanderbilt is a NET top-15 team with a 21-5 overall record and legitimate top-25 credentials, while Kentucky is a program that always carries outsized NCAA Tournament expectations regardless of record. The Wildcats are at home, which matters enormously in Rupp Arena, but the Commodores have been one of the SEC’s most consistent teams all season. This is a bubble-defining game for Kentucky and a statement opportunity for Vanderbilt.
3. Texas at Arkansas — Tuesday, March 4
Two of the SEC’s most dangerous mid-tier teams collide in what could be a preview of a conference tournament matchup. Arkansas (9-4 SEC, NET No. 17, AP No. 20) has been one of the league’s most consistent performers and is firmly in the top-4 conversation. Texas (8-5 SEC, NET No. 36) has quietly put together a solid season and is fighting for seeding position. The Razorbacks have the home-court advantage at a raucous Bud Walton Arena, but Texas has the talent to win anywhere. For Arkansas, a win would cement a top-4 seed and potentially push the Hogs into the top-3 conversation. For Texas, a road win over a top-20 NET team would be a massive Quad 1 résumé boost heading into Selection Sunday. Don’t sleep on this one.
The Longhorns’ chances to make the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 got a big boost this week. Check out the markets for some of the SEC’s bubble teams on Kalshi below:
2. Florida at Kentucky — Saturday, March 7
The SEC regular-season finale for both programs, and it could not be more loaded. Florida (11-2 SEC, NET No. 9, AP No. 12) has been the class of the conference all season and is chasing the outright regular-season title. Kentucky (8-5 SEC, NET No. 30) is fighting for seeding and has everything to gain from knocking off the league’s best team in front of a sold-out Rupp Arena on the final day of the regular season. For the Gators, a win here likely clinches the SEC regular-season crown outright and sends them into Nashville as the No. 1 seed. A loss, however, could open the door for a logjam at the top depending on how other results shake out. Kentucky has the home-court advantage and the motivation of a rivalry game. This is the marquee matchup of the final weekend.
1. Alabama at Tennessee — Saturday, Feb. 28
Alabama (9-4 SEC, NET No. 19, AP No. 25) and Tennessee (9-4 SEC, NET No. 21) are deadlocked in the standings, and this is a direct head-to-head collision that will go a long way toward determining who finishes in the top tier of the conference. Both programs are firmly in the NCAA Tournament field, but the difference between a 2-seed and a 4-seed in Nashville — and potentially in the NCAA Tournament — could hinge on this result. Thompson-Boling Arena is one of the loudest venues in college basketball, and the Volunteers will have a raucous crowd behind them. Alabama, meanwhile, has the talent and experience to win on the road. The loser of this game will be in danger of losing its top-4 seed in Nashville, which would be devastating. This is a matchup between 2 programs with legitimate Final Four aspirations, and it’s the single most important game left on the SEC schedule. Nate Ament vs. Labaron Philon Jr. Circle it.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
