SEC Tournament Preview for Games on Friday, March 13, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Mar 13, 2026, 11:44am

After chalk breezed through to the second round, the lower seeds were able to build on their momentum with three of the four moving on to the quarterfinals. Auburn was the only loser of the bunch, falling to Tennessee 72-62. With the top of the conference now joining the field, expect Friday’s slate to be an exciting one, bringing us plenty of markets to wager on.

Friday’s SEC Tournament Schedule

Kentucky vs. Florida – 13:00/ESPN
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt – 15:30/ESPN
Ole Miss vs. Alabama – 19:00/SECN
Oklahoma vs. Arkansas – 21:30/SECN

2026 SEC Tournament Resources

Kentucky vs. Florida Game Preview

Heading into the year, all eyes were on Kentucky and Florida with both programs sitting near the top of the odds board for the SEC title. While the Gators were able to live up to expectations, the Wildcats struggled to find their footing, plummeting down to the nine seed which has forced them to start their run in the first round of the tournament.

After squeaking past their first two opponents, the Wildcats now face their toughest test yet with the Gators on deck. Florida has been in a tier of their own this season, ranking in the top-10 in Adjusted Offensive and in Defensive Efficiency. With no clear weakness on either side of the court, the Gators have been able to reduce the amount of variance in their contests, increasing their chances of winning.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they lack the production that is needed in the interior to disrupt the Gators rhythm on offense, ranking outside the top-100 in Def Rebound Percentage and in Foul Rate. With Florida’s bigs able to generate a higher volume of second chance scoring opportunities, expect the Gators to score at a consistent rate and stamp their ticket to the semifinals.

Kentucky vs. Florida Game Odds

Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Game Preview

After going into the half down seven, Tennessee was able to quickly erase the deficit in the second half, covering the -5.5 spread in the process. An impressive performance from their defense, smothering a Tigers offense who ranks in the top-40 in Adjusted Offensive Rating and in Turnover Percentage.

Every bit of their production on defense will be needed against Vanderbilt as the Commodores excel at creating space for their shooters, ranking near the top of the board in Effective Field Goal Percentage. Tyler Tanner has helped turn Vanderbilt’s offense into an efficient unit this season, averaging 19.2 Points and 5.2 Assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the floor.

On the other end of the court, Vanderbilt’s defense have been terrific, ranking well above league average in Havoc and in Defensive Efficiency. Vanderbilt’s knack for creating Disruptions will be an issue for the Volunteers who have struggled to take care of the ball this year, leading to an uptick in their own number of possessions on offense when they create a Turnover, helping them pull away on the scoreboard.

Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Game Odds

Ole Miss vs. Alabama Game Preview

Even with negative regression looming large over their offense in their second round matchup against Georgia, Ole Miss was able to brush it to the side, beating the Bulldogs 76-72. A stunning display from a unit who struggles to create high quality shot attempts at multiple levels of the court, ranking near dead last in Field Goal Percentage.

Luckily for the Rebels, their offense is in a great position to carry over their hot stretch of play into the quarterfinals, facing off against Alabama who generate Havoc and Turnovers at one of the lowest rates in the nation. With the Crimson Tide incapable of face guarding, Ole Miss will be able to consistently attack the interior and generate high quality shots near the rim.

Capitalizing on their scoring opportunities is vital as the Rebels can ill-afford to go into a slump when Alabama’s offense is able to put up points on the board in a flash. Especially with the Rebels also struggling to create Disruptions, making it easier for Alabama to stretch out their coverage which will widen the width of their lanes to the rim.

Ole Miss vs. Alabama Game Odds

Oklahoma vs. Arkansas Game Preview

The red hot Oklahoma Sooners continue to win, making it six straight after their second round victory over Texas A&M. A much needed win for the Sooners who are teetering on the bubble, potentially just one win away from cementing their place in the NCAA Tournament.

Heading into Friday night, the Sooners will need to continue to be firing on all cylinders if they want to keep pace with Arkansas. The Razorbacks offense have been one of the more productive units in the nation this year, ranking in the top-20 in Offensive Efficiency, Turnover Percentage, and in Field Goal percentage.

While the injury status of Darius Acuff Jr. still looms over the Razorbacks, he announced two days ago that he is on pace to make his return on Friday night. Acuff Jr. has played a major role in the Razorbacks success on offense, averaging 22.2 Points per game while shooting 43.7% from three and 49.3% from the field.

Oklahoma vs. Arkansas Game Odds

SEC Tournament Betting Pick

Until the Rebels offense falls back down to reality, it’s tough to fade them, especially when they draw a favorable matchup on Friday night. Alabama’s defense has struggled to play at a competitive level this season, ranking well below league average in Steal Percentage, Def Rebound Percentage, and in Foul Rate.

Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, they will be able to match the Rebels output by taking advantage of a defense who sits outside the top-70 in Defensive Efficiency while fouling at one of the highest rates in the nation. Even if their shots fail to fall, their ability to haul in Offensive Rebounds will help them create second chance scoring opportunities, increasing the likelihood they turn their possessions into points on the board.

With clear paths to success for both offenses, the quarterfinal matchup between Ole Miss and Alabama is expected to be an exciting one, leading to a high scoring affair which tips the scales in favor of the over. You can also increase your exposure by live trading it, targeting either Ole Miss or Alabama when they run cold as their opponents lack of defensive production will help them quickly round back into competitive form.

Best Bet: OM/ALA O (1 unit)

SEC Tournament Betting Tracker

Record: 1-1
Units: -0.1

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.