SEC Basketball Tournament 2011: Game-By-Game Schedule and Predictions

It is finally here...March Madness. With this said, the SEC Tournament starts this Thursday. Although Florida and Kentucky are huge favorites to win the whole thing, there are still a lot of good games to be played. 

During the month of March there are always teams that are very pesky and try to get into the Big Dance. This is in fact the case for the SEC Tournament.

Here is a look at the SEC Tournament Schedule.

Tournament Schedule:

Thursday, March 10

Game 1: W5 Auburn vs. E4 Georgia

Game 2: E6 South Carolina vs. W3 Mississippi 

Game 3: E5 Tennessee vs. W4 Arkansas 

Game 4: W6 LSU vs. E3 Vanderbilt 

Friday, March 11

Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. W1 Alabama

Game 6: Winner of Game 2 vs. E2 Kentucky

Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. E1 Florida

Game 8: Winner of Game 4 vs. W2 Mississippi State

Saturday, March 12

Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6

Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Sunday, March 13

Game 11: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10

Game 1: Auburn vs. Georgia

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Steve Tchiengang #33 of the Vanderbilt Commodores attempts to control the ball as he falls against the Georgia Bulldogs during the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2010 i

This game along with all of the others, are being played at the Georgia Dome. With that in mind, the Georgia Bulldogs have the crowd going for them.

The Bulldogs are temporarily on the bubble, and if they want to keep their tournament hopes alive, they will have a deep run in this year's SEC Tournament. 

Auburn has only 11 wins this year and they will have no chance against the Bulldogs, who beat them earlier this year by nine points in overtime. 

Georgia will move on to play Alabama.

Game 2: South Carolina vs. Mississippi

Although the South Carolina Gamecocks had a tough year, they managed to beat Mississippi in their only meeting, 79-73. 

They also upset Florida and Vanderbilt, so they are capable of pulling off an upset. 

The Gamecocks have no chance at making the NCAA Tournament, unless, of course, they win the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks have nothing to lose in this game and they are going to burst the Rebels' bubble.

South Carolina upsets Mississippi in this game. 

Game 3: Tennessee vs. Arkansas

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Bruce Pearl on the sideline against the Villanova Wildcats during the Championship game at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Both Tennessee and Arkansas could use a couple of wins in the SEC Tournament to keep their hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament. 

Arkansas beat Tennessee in a close game earlier this season. 

With that said, this game is a toss up; however, Bruce Pearl and the Volunteers will march on to play Florida. 

Game 4: LSU vs. Vanderbilt

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 12: Kyle Fuller #11 and Festus Ezeli #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores react after forcing a turnover against the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Gym on February 12, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt won 81-77. (Photo by Gran

This is by far the most mismatched game in the SEC Tournament. The Vanderbilt Commodores lost their last two games to push them down to the third seed in the East. 

Vanderbilt blew out the LSU Tigers in their only matchup this season and they are going to do the same in this game.

Vanderbilt wins in a landslide. 

Game 5: Georgia vs. Alabama

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 10: Tony Mitchell #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dunks against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gym on February 10, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Moving onto the next round. 

This is going to be a great defensive game and the Bulldogs will once again have the crowd on their side.

However, this is a very hungry Alabama team and they will pull off the victory in this game, bursting Georgia's bubble and keeping their own NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Game 6: South Carolina vs. Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, KY - MARCH 01: Brandon Knight #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball during the SEC game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on March 1, 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 68-66. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Gamecocks are going to pull off an upset in the first round of this tournament; however, they will not do the same against the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Wildcats win this game with ease and move one step closer to the championship game. 

Game 7: Tennessee vs. Florida

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Guard Erving Walker #11 of the Florida Gators plays against the Ohio State Buckeyes November 16, 2010 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Although the Volunteers will keep this game close, the Florida Gators will be more than they can handle. 

The Gators have already beat Tennessee twice this year and they are going to make it a third time. With this late in the season, the Gators are going to be on top of their game and they will be very tough to beat.

Florida wins this one. 

Game 8: Vanderbilt vs. Mississipi State

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 12: John Jenkins #23 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates with fans after a win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Gym on February 12, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt won 81-77. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Im

Vanderbilt and Mississippi State had one meeting this year, where Vanderbilt won; however, this game was played in Nashville.

On a neutral court site, this game is very hard to predict, and either one of these teams could win. 

However, Vanderbilt is going to clip Mississippi in this game and move onto the next round. This will also secure a decent seed in the NCAA Tournament for the Commodores. 

Game 9: Alabama vs. Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, KY - MARCH 01: The Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders perform during the SEC game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on March 1, 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Both Kentucky and Alabama have terrific defenses and are loaded with talent. 

Although Alabama is the No. 1 seed in the West, they will be the underdog in this game. They have a good enough team to knock off Kentucky. They have already defeated Kentucky once this season.

However, Kentucky has been playing really good ball lately and they will win this game to go onto the SEC Championship.

Game 10: Vanderbilt vs. Florida

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Fans of the Florida Gators cheer play against the Ohio State Buckeyes November 16, 2010 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Florida Gators have knocked off Vanderbilt twice this season. Although it is very tough to beat a team three times in one season, Florida will pull this off.

The Gators are a better team than the Commodores, and they are going to show this by beating Vanderbilt for the third time this season.

With Florida winning, it will setup the matchup that everyone wants to see in the SEC Title, the rubber match game between Florida and Kentucky. 

Game 11: Florida vs. Kentucky

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TAMPA, FL - MARCH 12: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators talks with his team during a time out against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first round of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the St. Pete Times Forum March 12, 2009 in Tampa,

This is the matchup that everyone wants to see. This game will prove who is really the best team in the SEC this year.

The Gators and Wildcats have both beat each other this season and this game will be the tiebreaker.

Although the Wildcats are a very good team, their inexperience and youth is going to get to them in this game against a more experienced Florida team.

Florida will chomp Kentucky in a very good game and will secure a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.