2017 Championship Week Primer: SEC

For the most part over the past eight years, Kentucky has been the class of the SEC, with Florida sharing or taking the crown at points during that stretch. The Gators almost did again this year when Kentucky went on a swoon at the end of January, losing 3 of 4 games. But when it came down the stretch, the Wildcats were the ones that came out on top, finishing two games ahead of Florida.

Those two teams are going to the NCAA Tournament, with the Wildcats going in right now as a 2 seed and Florida as a 3 seed. Elsewhere, South Carolina as an 8 seed and Arkansas as a 9 seed look t be in the tournament as well. The only bubble team in the SEC is Vanderbilt, who is on the razor's edge on the bubble as a 12 seed. Vanderbilt needs to do some work in the SEC Tournament to feel good about their chances.

The SEC has 14 teams and all of them will take place in the tournament. The top four seeds got a double bye to the quarterfinals while the fifth through tenth seeds only got a single bye. The tournament will take place from March 8th to March 12th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

First Round-Wednesday, March 8th
#13 Louisiana State vs. #12 Mississippi State 
#14 Missouri vs. #11 Auburn 

Second Round-Thursday, March 9th
#9 Tennessee vs. #8 Georgia 
#12 Mississippi State vs. #5 Alabama
#10 Texas A&M vs. #7 Vanderbilt
#11 Auburn vs. #6 Ole Miss

Quarterfinals-Friday, March 10th
#8 Georgia vs. #1 Kentucky
#5 Alabama vs. #4 South Carolina
#7 Vanderbilt vs. #2 Florida
#6 Ole Miss vs. #3 Arkansas

Semifinals-Saturday, March 11th
#5 Alabama vs. #1 Kentucky
#3 Arkansas vs. #2 Florida

Championship-Sunday, March 12th
It seems only fitting that these two teams have a rubber match to determine the SEC champion and who will get to cut down the nets less than an hour before the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed. Kentucky has become one of the most dangerous teams in the country and have not lost in a long time. They might even be able to poach a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if North Carolina stumbles or the committee decides they like Kentucky's resume more than Gonzaga's. It starts in Nashville though and the Wildcats will come away victorious.

Florida 66, Kentucky 76