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Vanderbilt's recent five-game winning streak may have bumped them up to seventh in the official SEC standings - but they're number four in the hearts of gamblers everywhere.
The Commodores kicked off Monday with the fourth-best odds to win the league tournament. A $20 bet on Vandy would pay off with a tidy $320 return if the 'Dores can win four straight games and secure their second conference tourney title under Kevin Stallings. That's a far cry from the odds that 31-0 Kentucky is getting. A similar bet on on the Wildcats would bring back just $5.
Odds to win the 2015 SEC Tournament | |
Kentucky | *1/4 |
Georgia | *4/1 |
Arkansas | *10/1 |
Vanderbilt | *16/1 |
Florida | *18/1 |
LSU | *18/1 |
Ole Miss | *20/1 |
Texas A&M | *28/1 |
Tennessee | *50/1 |
South Carolina | *66/1 |
Alabama | *75/1 |
Auburn | *500/1 |
Mississippi State | *500/1 |
Missouri | *500/1 |
Based on how UK has looked, those 1/4 odds may still be the best on the board. The Wildcats won 12 of their 18 SEC games by double digits. Their average margin of victory against league opponents is 16.7 points. Otherwise, a 10/1 bet on the #18 Arkansas Razorbacks could be a solid play. Like Vandy and Georgia, their position on the opposite side of the bracket from Kentucky is a definite advantage. They'll rely on a pair of likely NBA talents - Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls - to carry them to the podium in Nashville.
Oddsmakers seem pretty confident with South Carolina's chances to make it out of the opening round. Frank Martin's Gamecocks were pegged as a 66/1 underdog to win it all. Every other team that will play on Wednesday is set to pay back a $10,000 return on your $20 investment if they can catch fire and shock the world.