SEC Basketball Tournament 2011 Bracket Predictions: Kentucky or Florida?

SEC Tournament

The SEC Tournament is beginning on March 10th. The teams with the best chance of winning are Florida and Kentucky.

Florida has a tough path to the finals. They have Tennessee, Vandy and Mississippi State while Kentucky has Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss.

The divisional seeding format hasn't worked for the past two seasons. Florida didn't get any favors by winning the conference. Click here for a good article about whether the SEC should disband the division format.

Florida and Kentucky are playing for their seed in the NCAA Tournament. They both have a shot at a No. 3 seed depending on how things go.

Here are each team's chances according to teamrankings.com:

LSU: 0 Percent

Ralston Turner

LSU finished with the worst conference record in the SEC. In the first round, they will take on Vanderbilt. When these two teams played, LSU got pummeled.

The Tigers have very little chance to play more than this game in the tournament.

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Vandy bounced LSU in Round 1.

Auburn: 0 Percent

Earnest Ross

Auburn has Georgia in the first round. The games are played in the Georgia Dome so the Bulldogs will have the crowd behind them. Auburn and Georgia played on February 5th. Georgia won that game in overtime.

If Auburn can get past Georgia, they will lose to Alabama.

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Georgia beat Auburn in Round 1.

South Carolina: .17 Percent

Bruce Ellington

South Carolina has a chance to slip past the first round. They will face Mississippi...a team they beat.

The winner of that game takes on SEC powerhouse Kentucky, though. Kentucky should be able to handle South Carolina on a neutral floor.

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South Carolina lost to Ole Miss in Round one.

Arkansas: .38 Percent

Delvon Johnson
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Arkansas will play Tennessee in the first round. They beat the Vols at home earlier in the season. An upset is unlikely but possible.

The winner of that game will lose to Florida.

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Arkansas lost to Tennessee in the first round.

Mississipi State: .44 Percent

Ravern Johnson
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Mississipi State was fortunate to earn a bye and will likely be playing Vanderbilt in round two. Vandy beat the Bulldogs earlier in the year and will probably beat them again.

The winner will likely lose to Florida in round three.

Mississipi: .84 Percent

Chris Warren
Nick Laham/Getty Images

Ole Miss has a decent matchup with South Carolina in round one. If they get past them, they'll face Kentucky.

The Rebels beat the Wildcats at home but Kentucky is surging now and won't lose on a neutral floor. The Rebels won't get past round two.

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Ole Miss beat South Carolina in the first round but lost to Kentucky in Round 2.

Georgia: 3.67 Percent

Trey Thompkins
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Georgia is an interesting case since the games are played in the Georgia Dome. That was good for one upset last year. They should beat up on Auburn and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the Bulldogs beat  Alabama in round two.

Georgia did beat the Wildcats 77-70. It would be an upset to beat them again. Their run would probably stop there against Kentucky, though.

Georgia is a scary team in the tournament.

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Georgia beat Auburn in Round one but lost to Alabama in overtime in Round two.

Tennessee: 4.32 Percent

Scotty Hopson
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Tennessee has been better on the road than at home this year so there is that.

The Vols should beat Arkansas then lose to Florida in round two. Tennesee is projected to get a nine seed in the big dance.

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As predicted, Tennessee dropped Arkansas in Round one but lost to Florida in Round two.

Alabama: 5.78 Percent

JaMychal Green
Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Alabama got where they are beating up on the inferior West division. Their conference record is an impressive 12-4. Bama is strong inside and plays great defense.

The earned the first-round bye and might get past Georgia in round two. Their journey will end in round three against Kentucky though.

Will that be enough to earn a bid in the NCAA Tournament? Maybe but beating Kentucky would probably put them over the top.

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Alabama beat Georgia in overtime in Round 2. They have Kentucky in Round 3.

Vanderbilt: 15.52 Percent

Festus Ezeli
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Vandy is a team with a real shot at winning this thing.They'll destroy LSU in round one and should beat Mississippi State in round two.

In round three, they'll face Florida who just beat them by 10 in their own house.

They probably won't beat Florida but they will get into the big dance.

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Vandy beat up on LSU in Round one.

Florida: 25.38 Percent

Erving Walker
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Florida should get to the finals but they got a tough draw. Mississippi State could present a challenge if the Rebels beat Vandy in round two.

The likely scenario is a rubber match against Kentucky. Florida beat Kentucky at home and lost at Rupp Arena. The game will be close and could go either way.

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Florida beat Tennessee in Round 2.

Kentucky: 43.49 Percent

Brandon Knight
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Kentucky has really been surging of late. They wrapped up their season with a win at Tennessee. The Cats have won four in a row and six of their previous seven. One thing that could hurt the Wildcats is the lack of depth but the first round bye helps.

UK should get to the finals but would be wise not look to look past Georgia or Alabama, though. Both of those teams have beaten the Cats this year.

Kentucky is hot but so is Florida. Both teams held serve at home and are the two best teams in the conference.

The game and tournament will be super fun regardless of the outcome.

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Kentucky beat Ole Miss in Round 2.