SEC Tournament 2023: Men's Quarterfinals Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions

As the SEC descends upon Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee for this year's conference tournament, chaos is to be expected especially after such a wildly competitive regular season.

Of course, Alabama, which was ranked among the top five teams in the country for the majority of the season, will be the favorite to take the tournament title home to Tuscaloosa.

But nothing about this year has shown it'll be an easy road to victory for any team.

Teams like Texas A&M and Tennessee—the reigning tournament champions—both managed to slay the mighty Crimson Tide during the back end of the year and will feel confident in any game against the top seed.

The good news for Alabama is that the last time it won the tournament in 2021, it was the No. 1 seed.

The contender pool goes much deeper than those three teams, though, as no one can count out John Calipari and his talented Kentucky team, which has been on a good run of form over the last month, winning five of its last six games.

Some of the Wildcats' wins over that stretch include Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn and Arkansas, some of the more formidable teams in the conference.

Auburn, Missouri and Vanderbilt are also teams to watch as they are all capable of pulling off their fair share of surprises.

Regardless of how things shake out over the next three days, it's sure to be one of the most competitive stretches of men's college basketball this year.

---

Make your picks: Play the NCAA March Madness Men's Bracket Challenge and Tournament Run.

How to Watch

Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - FEBRUARY 25: head coach Nate Oats instructs Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during a second half break in action against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Coleman Coliseum on February 25, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Here is the schedule for the SEC Tournament and how to catch up on all the action going on in Nashville this weekend.

Most of the games can be watched or streamed on ESPN or the SEC Network. Quarterfinals action kicks off Friday afternoon beginning with No. 1 seed Alabama playing in its first game of the tournament.

You can find the full schedule and TV info in the Twitter image below:

Predictions

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 25: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates in the 86-54 win against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 25, 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

It's hard to envision anyone taking down Alabama, even with the pair of late-season blips it had against the Aggies and Volunteers.

And with newly crowned SEC Player of the Year Brandon Miller playing some of the best ball of his young collegiate career, it may be a long few days for the other contenders.

Miller, 20, hasn't just been the best player in the conference, but he is also one of the best scorers in the entire country.

The future NBA lottery pick is averaging 19.6 points per game to go along with eight rebounds and 1.8 assists all while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three.

His 19.6 points per game ranks 33rd in all of Division I and is the best among all freshmen in college basketball.

Miller is joined by Mark Sears and Noah Clowney in double-digit scoring.

One of the few teams in the conference that can keep up with the Crimson Tide from a talent perspective is Kentucky, which has one of the most loaded rosters in the country, including former National College Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe.

Freshman guard Cason Wallace has been the catalyst for the Wildcats' offense. He finished second in the conference in assists per game at 4.2. And Antonio Reeves is one of the best three-point shooters in the league at 41 percent.

It'll all depend on the team's health as Wallace, Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick are working their way back from injuries.

Another reason Kentucky is such a formidable contender is how it ended the regular season. The Wildcats were playing as well as any team in the conference over the final month of the year, winning 11 of their final 15 games and five of their last six.

While it's not difficult to imagine them making a run to the tournament final, it's a much taller task having to shut down Miller and keep pace with the array of offensive weapons the Crimson Tide have at their disposal.

So, while this perhaps hasn't been Calipari's best team in Lexington, it still has enough to prove itself as one of the top two in the conference.

Prediction: Alabama beats Kentucky 78-64 in the SEC tournament final

SEC Tournament Odds

Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - FEBRUARY 25: Anthony Black #0 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives to the basket during the first half against Jaden Bradley #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum on February 25, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Alabama (+170; bet $100 to win $170)

Tennessee (+280)

Kentucky (+450)

Texas A&M (+500)

Auburn (+1200)

Arkansas (+1200)

Missouri (+2500)

Vanderbilt (+3500)

Mississippi State (+4500)

Florida (+10000)

Georgia (+50000)

Ole Miss (+50000)

South Carolina (+80000)

LSU (+100000)