2022 SEC College Basketball Betting Preview: Who is The Top of The Best Conference in The Country?

The SEC is flush with NBA level talent as it becomes a gauntlet to get through.

Six teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, and there is arguably more talent this season gunning for the top of the conference that includes Kentucky, Tennessee Arkansas and Auburn, among others. Florida has rebuilt their roster and Alabama remains loaded with talent.

What do you need to know ahead of this season in the SEC? Here's our conference preview:

2022-2023 SEC Preseason Poll

• Kentucky
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• Auburn
• Alabama
• Texas A&M
• Florida
• LSU
• Ole Miss
• Mississippi State
• Missouri
• Vanderbilt
• Georgia
• South Carolina

Kentucky is the preseason favorite in terms of the media poll, and ranked No. 1 in KenPom, but not as high in other metrics (No. 8 in Bart Torvik's metric and No. 4 in Eric Haslam's). The more steady team in terms of rating is Tennessee, who is fourth in KenPom, third in Bart Torvik's metric and No. 8 in Eric Haslam's rating.

The Vols have three senior starts, namely Josiah Jordan-James, the 6'6 forward while Olivier Nkamhoua slides into the starting center spot at 6'8. The defense was third in defensive efficiency last season, per KenPom, a product of Barnes' system, but there is some questions about backcourt size to handle the speed of the SEC.

Replacing Kennedy Chandler at guard is 5'9 sophomore Zakai Zeigler, who is flanked by senior sharpshooter Santiago Vescovi. If there is any questions for the Tennessee team it will be with on-ball creation and their ability to limit dribble penetration.

SEC KenPom College Basketball Ranking

• Alabama: 18
• Arkansas: 14
• Auburn: 13
• Florida: 35
• Georgia: 93
• Kentucky: 1
• LSU: 40
• Mississippi State: 53
• Ole Miss: 49
• South Carolina: 78
• Tennessee: 4
• Texas A&M: 45
• Vanderbilt: 66

SEC Favorite: Kentucky (+1200)

It was an underwhelming exit for the Coach Cal and the Wildcats last March, losing to Elite 8 bound St. Peter's in the first round, but the team has reloaded and is looked at as a National Championship contender.

The team brings back National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe as well as Jacob Toppin and Sahvir Wheeler to complement the sixth best recruiting class in the country. Shot making was a concern last season for the Wildcats, but Coach Cal hit the portal and brought in 47% 3-point shooter C.J. Frederick as well as 39% 3-point shooter Antonio Reeves.

The Wildcats are No. 1 in KenPom's preseason ranking, but they must weather the early injury bug. Tshibwe had a minor knee procedure three weeks ago, but does look ready to go for the team's opener next week. Meanwhile, Wheeler suffered a knee injury in the team's exhibition against Missouri Western State this week, but Coach Cal is hopeful it is minor.

On paper, Kentucky is a top team that improved in spots where they were flawed last year, mainly shot making.

SEC Dark Horse: Florida (+7000)

Things went south with Mike White in Florida (who is now the head coach at Georgia), but the Gators made the decision to bring in San Francisco head coach Todd Golden, who helped rebuild the Dons program and is one of the brightest young minds in the sport.

He starts his tenure in Gainesville with a talented roster that includes 6'11 center Colin Castleton and a handful of transfers like Alex Fudge (LSU) and Kyle Lofton (St. Bonaventure). While the pieces may be relative unknowns together, the team should be a two-way threat with Castleton anchoring the middle on both ends.

The team has size, all but one rotation player is 6'3 or taller and is oozing with upside under the influence of Golden.

SEC Team to Fade: Alabama (+5000)

Nate Oats has built several talented teams with the Crimson Tide since arriving from Buffalo, but the team has run short on shot making at times. Last season it was the fatal flaw of the team that was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Notre Dame. The team shot 30.9% from beyond the arc last season, 303rd in the country, despite sporting the 12th highest 3-point rate.

This season, Oats rebuilt the roster with transfers, including Ohio guard Mark Sears (19.7 points per game) and St. Bonaventure wing Dominick Welch (11.9). The team will also hope that Jahvon Quinerly will return from a knee injury by the time of SEC play, but this is a relative unknown heading into the year.

The team has upside by way of 6'9 freshman Brandon Miller and a strong frontcourt that should continue to dominate the offensive glass (12th in the nation in offensive rebounding rate), but shot making could be the fatal flaw again as there is still question marks in terms of shot making on the perimeter.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.