SEC Tournament: Power Ranking Kentucky Wildcats' Biggest Challengers

Everyone knows the Kentucky Wildcats are the odds on favorites to win the SEC tournament, but who are their biggest challengers?

They have gone undefeated in SEC play, and have lost only one game all season. Needless to say, a Wildcats' loss is unlikely.

I will rank the five teams in the SEC that have any chance of pulling the upset over the nation's top team.

5. Florida Gators 

I know the Gators are considered one of the better teams in the SEC, but they have not matched up well with Kentucky. They lack the size and athleticism upfront to contend with the Wildcats.

Kentucky won the rebounded battle 66-44 in their two games against Florida this season. When Kentucky dominates the glass, they spend a ton of time in transition. When that happens, teams are in deep trouble.

That would explain why the Gators have lost by an average of 17.5 points in the two regular season match-ups.

4. Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols simply don't have the size. Their tallest players, Kenny Hall and Renaldo Woolridge, are only 6'9". Anthony Davis is only 6'10" or 6'11", but his length and athleticism have him playing much bigger.

Tennessee does have perimeter players capable of catching fire, like Trae Golden, but they depend so much on the three that it actually hurts them against Kentucky.

The long rebounds off misses puts the Wildcats in, you guessed it, transition. Vandy would have to shoot an insane percentage from deep to off-set the size and athleticism edge Kentucky holds.

Kentucky defeated the Vols by an average of 14 points during the regular season.

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have the talent to compete with anyone, but will they play consistent enough to pull it off? Arnett Moultrie and Renardo Sidney have the size and ability to control the boards and score in the half court.

This could help control tempo, plus they have the scorer from the perimeter in Dee Bost to get hot and make tough shots.

In the teams' only match-up, the Wildcats won 73-64. If the Bulldogs were more consistent, I'd have them as the number one challenger. Then again, if they were more consistent, predicting an upset wouldn't be such a long shot.

2. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vandy has played the Wildcats tough in both games this season. The Wildcats have won by an average of only seven points in those two games. Vandy has the size to contend inside and the shooters to knock down outside shots.

The Commodores shoot the three well and often. In the first match-up, they were 8 of 21 from the arc. A little better shooting from distance could have made a world of difference in that three point Kentucky victory.

Festus Ezell is averaging 14 points and six rebounds against Kentucky, and they need the seven-footers contributions to pull the upset. He helps off-set Davis' dominance, but Vandy needs more than just Ezell.

It would take a special team performance, but Vandy has a decent shot at pulling the upset.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide has the horses to run with Kentucky and they play swarming defense. They gave Kentucky hell in their only match-up this season. They lost 77-71 at Rupp Arena, holding Davis to 2 of 10 shooting from the field.

Bama is physical and athletic—they are one of the few teams that aren't completely over-matched in transition. Their biggest problem is outside shooting and half court offense in general.

They score only 65 points per game, and shoot only 28 percent from three point range. It puts a ton of pressure on their defense to create opportunities to score.

If they can drag Kentucky into an ugly game, they have the best shot at pulling the upset.