Alabama Week 6 Review
Alabama won a thrilling 63-62 contest over 15th ranked Texas A&M on Wednesday (Feb. 11) at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide led by double digits late in the se-cond half but the Aggies made a comeback in the last three minutes of the game. Anthony Collins, a 93-percent free throw shooter entering the game, missed a pair of foul shots with two seconds left that sealed the victory for Alabama. The Tide improved to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in conference play. Alabama travels to Gainesville this Saturday (Feb. 13) to take on Florida.
Auburn Week 6 Review
Auburn has lost six consecutive games, and the losses haven’t been particularly close. Tennessee defeated the Tigers, 71-45, last week in Knoxville, which dropped Auburn to 9-14 overall and 3-8 in league play. AU Point guard Kareem Canty was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team, a devastating blow to an Auburn team already lacking in depth. The Tigers host Vanderbilt this Saturday (Feb. 13).
SEC Rankings
1. Kentucky (18-6, 8-3)
2. South Carolina (21-3, 8-3)
3. LSU (15-9, 8-3)
4. Texas A&M (18-6, 7-4)
5. Florida (16-8, 7-4)
6. Vanderbilt (14-10, 6-5)
7. Ole Miss (15-9, 5-6)
8. Georgia (13-9, 6-5)
9. Alabama (14-9, 5-6)
10. Arkansas (12-12, 5-6)
11. Tennessee (12-12, 5-6)
12. Mississippi State (10-13, 3-8)
13. Auburn (9-14, 3-8)
14. Missouri (8-16, 1-10)
Week 7 Previews and Predictions
Week 6: 9-5; season: 42-17
Saturday, Feb. 13
Kentucky at South Carolina. South Carolina has a very good chance of winning the regular season SEC championship if it can knock off the Wildcats at home this weekend. The Gamecocks have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, and a win over Kentucky would give them a tiebreaker over the Wildcats. Kentucky has struggled on the road this season, and South Carolina hasn’t lost at home this year. Prediction: South Carolina 74, Kentucky 70.
Texas A&M at LSU. After a tremendous start to the season, the Aggies have fallen off the last few weeks. Billy Kennedy’s team has lost four consecutive conference games, and while they are still likely to make the NCAA Tournament, they don’t look as strong as they did a month ago. LSU also can’t afford many more losses down the stretch. Prediction: LSU 78, Texas A&M 74.
Arkansas at Ole Miss. Ole Miss’s resume isn’t particularly great at the moment, but they still have an outside chance at making the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels need quality wins and need them quickly. They also must avoid bad losses, and a home loss to Arkansas would eliminate the Rebs from tournament contention. Prediction: Ole Miss 73, Arkansas 67.
Tennessee at Missouri. Rick Barnes’ team has steadily improved through-out the season, and the Volunteers have been an especially tough out at home in conference play. The postseason is unlikely this season for UT but the foundation is being laid for the future of the program. Prediction: Tennessee 66, Missouri 60.
Alabama at Florida. At 14-9, Alabama’s NCAA Tournament chances are slim. If the Crimson Tide can pick up a road win at Florida or at LSU in the next week, however, they would drastically improve their tournament chances. Florida has been tough to beat in Gainesville this season. Prediction: Florida 75, Alabama 67.
Vanderbilt at Auburn. Despite a less-than-stellar record, Vanderbilt is still one of the most talented teams in the SEC. The Commodores can’t afford a loss to Auburn, and they need a strong finish to the season to sneak into the Big Dance. Prediction: Vanderbilt 82, Auburn 70.
Georgia at Mississippi State. Mississippi State played its best game of the season last week against Arkansas, and the Bulldogs look to continue that success at home against Georgia. Much like Ole Miss and Alabama, Georgia is barely hanging on to the bubble, and each game is increasingly important for Mark Fox’s team. Prediction: Georgia 68, Mississippi State 65.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
South Carolina 72, Missouri 61
Florida 68, Georgia 66
Texas A&M 72, Ole Miss 68
Vanderbilt 80, Mississippi State 71
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Arkansas 76, Auburn 64
LSU 71, Alabama 68
Thursday, Feb. 18
Kentucky 82, Tennessee 66