Odds to Win SEC 2020-2021 Regular-Season Title

• Conference play begins on December 29, 2020, and will conclude on March 3, 2021
• Each team will play 18 games in total playing the other 13 teams at least once along with their three permanent opponents plus two rotating opponents a second time
• See the odds for the SEC Regular-Season title, along with analysis and our best bet below
  

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Kentucky is the current favorite in the SEC title odds at +120.

The Wildcats finished first last season at 18-3 in conference play although the SEC Tournament was canceled due to Covid-19. As usual, Kentucky will be led by multiple freshmen this season, although Wake Forest transfer, Oliver Sarr, could be Kentucky’s most important player.

As good as Kentucky might be, the SEC is likely to be a three, maybe four-team race as Tennessee (+350), LSU (+500), and Florida (+900) will all have something to say about who wins the SEC Championship in 2020-21.

Odds to Win SEC 2020-21 Regular Season Title

Odds taken Nov. 23rd at FanDuel 

Tennessee Presents Great Value

The move that sticks out to me the most is the Tennessee Volunteers at +350. Tennessee has the coaching and returning starters to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament even without their top five recruiting class.

The Volunteers had a mediocre season last year finishing 9-9, but they did finish strong by winning two of their last three games including wins over perennial powerhouses Florida and Kentucky.

Tennessee is led by forward John Fulkerson, who averaged 22.6 points in those final three games last season including, 27 in the victory over Kentucky. He was one of two Tennessee basketball players to be named to the Coaches’ Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Team.

John Fulkerson and Yves Pons have been named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team by the coaches. pic.twitter.com/zF5imh0WfY

— More Important Issues (@More_Issues) November 19, 2020

The other Tennessee player to be named to the Coaches’ Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Team is swingman, Yves Pons, who is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He also contributed 10.8 points while pulling down 5.4 rebounds per game. There are many in Tennessee circles who believe that we have yet to see the best from Pons, which is scary.

Tennessee also returns important pieces that averaged 30 minutes per game in Santiago Vescovi (10.7 ppg) and Josiah Jordan-James (7.4 ppg). They will also be getting help in the rebounding department from Sacred Heart graduate transfer E.J. Anosike.

Prized recruits from the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson, should make an immediate impact this season. Both are as athletic as anyone in the SEC and will likely be one-and-done candidates.

Florida Cannot Be Counted Out

The other team to keep an eye on would be the Florida Gators at +900. They will skip their first two games of the season after pausing all basketball activities for a week due to a positive Covid-19 test. That won’t affect their SEC schedule as those games don’t start for another month.

One thing that held them back last season was their defense that ranked 61st in the nation according to the KenPom ratings. This season’s coach, Mike White, has said that he plans to move away from the slow, methodical approach from last season into a press and run system. Given the talent on this roster, that will make a big difference.

Florida is led by Keyontae Johnson whom many have chosen as their preseason SEC Conference Player of the Year. He is a stat stuffer that can do everything on the basketball court.

Alley-oop to Keyontae Johnson who had 15, now has 17 already in the first half. #Gators pic.twitter.com/p1lPXMKQWl

— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) February 27, 2020

Johnson will be joined by Scottie Lewis who was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team. He is a superior defender that can shoot the ball and will fit perfectly in White’s press and run system.

Noah Locke will return after leading the SEC in offensive rating in conference play last year, as well as sit-out transfer Tyler Appleby. Sophomore big man, Omar Payne, rounds out what will prove to be a formidable starting five in the SEC.