Tennessee already knows it is playing for an outright SEC title on Wednesday night, but the game against South Carolina also carries extra weight for the NCAA Tournament.

According to the latest projections from Joe Lunardi, the Volunteers are currently anchored into a 2-seed as the No. 5 overall team for the NCAA Tournament. However, a win over the Gamecocks could change that.

If Tennessee wins Wednesday night, Lunardi would bump Tennessee ahead of Arizona for the final 1-seed in the tournament. A loss would not impact Tennessee’s current standing heading into a regular-season finale against Kentucky.

Even if the Vols were to lose in a tough road matchup, there is still a chance to play their way into a 1-seed during the SEC Basketball Tournament. Tennessee would undoubtedly love to solidify the SEC title and the top seed in the SEC on Wednesday with a tough game against Kentucky still to come. Fans can use SDS’s Tennessee sports betting links to track all the postseason odds for the Vols.

Comparing Tennessee vs. Arizona

Arizona may have the current edge for a No. 1 seed, but the Vols certainly have a better chance to boost their stock to finish the season. While Tennessee gets a pair of top-25 games against South Carolina and Kentucky, Arizona will face UCLA and USC to end the year.

Depending on the finish to the regular season, a greater opportunity also awaits Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. The Vols are 1 of 5 SEC teams currently ranked, and Florida and Mississippi State have also produced strong seasons.

Meanwhile, Washington State is the only other Pac-12 besides Arizona currently ranked, and there are just 3 Pac-12 teams with 20 wins entering Wednesday’s action.

As for past results, Tennessee is 5-3 against teams ranked in the AP Poll while Arizona is 3-3. Through that lens, the race for the final No. 1 seed should still be up for grabs with or without a win Wednesday night.

Beyond the chance to capture a 1-seed, Tennessee once again hits the NCAA Tournament with a Final Four cloud hanging over the program. The Vols have never been to college basketball’s promised land, and Rick Barnes has never led Tennessee to the Elite 8 in 5 NCAA Tournament appearances.

With a balanced team and strong firepower, there’s no denying falling short of a deep run this March would leave a brutal sting.