Game 1
SEC Net

Tennessee @ Georgia

Wednesday, 7:00 PM ET | Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, GA
Spread
UGA -2.5 (-110)
Moneyline
TENN +115 / UGA -135
Total
O/U 157.5

Tennessee heads to Athens in an SEC showdown between two teams with drastically different trajectories. The Volunteers sit at 13-6 (3-3 SEC), a disappointing record for a program with national title aspirations, while Georgia at 16-4 (4-3 SEC) has been one of the conference's pleasant surprises. The Bulldogs are laying 2.5 points at home, and their raucous crowd at Stegeman Coliseum has been a significant factor in their success this season.

Georgia's success has been built on defensive toughness and efficient half-court offense. Mike White's group has bought into a system that maximizes their talent, and they've been particularly difficult to beat between the lines in Athens. Tennessee has the more talented roster on paper, but their inconsistency in conference play raises serious questions about their reliability as a road team against motivated opponents.

The 157.5 total suggests a moderately-paced SEC contest, which is typical for two teams that prefer to play in the half-court. Tennessee's defense can be suffocating when engaged, but Georgia's patience on offense has been their calling card all season. This should be a tight, competitive battle where the home crowd and the Bulldogs' defensive intensity could be the deciding factors in a game that projects to go down to the wire.

Game 2
ESPN2

#10 Houston @ TCU

Wednesday, 9:00 PM ET | Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, TX
Spread
HOU -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline
HOU -230 / TCU +190
Total
O/U 137.5

The Cougars travel to Fort Worth as significant favorites, and Houston at 17-2 (5-1 Big 12) has been dominant all season under Kelvin Sampson. This is a team built on suffocating defense, and their ability to grind opponents into dust over 40 minutes makes them one of the most feared matchups in college basketball. TCU at 13-7 (3-4 Big 12) has been competitive in league play but inconsistent, and facing Houston's defense is a completely different challenge than anything else on their schedule.

Houston's defense is the story here, as it is in virtually every Cougars game. They make it ugly, force turnovers, and never let opponents get comfortable in their offensive sets. TCU will need to match that physical intensity to have any chance, and they'll need to find efficient offense against a defense that rarely gives up easy looks. The 137.5 total is one of the lowest you'll see in college basketball, and it perfectly encapsulates what a Houston game looks like.

The Horned Frogs have the home court advantage, which matters in the Big 12, but Houston has been road-tested all season and won't be fazed by the environment. Sampson's teams are always prepared, always disciplined, and always tough to beat regardless of venue. TCU needs to play a near-perfect game to pull this upset, and even then, it might not be enough against one of the nation's elite programs. The Cougars' ability to win ugly is their superpower.

Game 3
ESPN2

Texas @ Auburn

Wednesday, 7:00 PM ET | Auburn Arena, Auburn, AL
Spread
AUB -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline
TEX +190 / AUB -230
Total
O/U 156.5

The Longhorns make the trip to Auburn Arena in what should be a hostile SEC environment. Auburn at 13-7 (4-3 SEC) hasn't been quite the dominant force some expected this season, but they remain a dangerous home team with incredible crowd energy. Texas at 12-8 (3-4 SEC) is navigating a difficult first full season in the SEC and has shown the growing pains expected of a program adjusting to the conference's relentless physicality.

Auburn is laying 5.5 points at home, which reflects their significant home-court advantage. The Tigers' fans create one of the toughest environments in college basketball, and visiting teams regularly underperform at Auburn Arena. Texas has the talent to compete on any given night, but road games in the SEC are a different beast entirely, and the Longhorns have been inconsistent away from Austin this season.

The 156.5 total projects a standard SEC pace, with both teams capable of scoring in bunches but also grinding possessions when needed. Auburn's athleticism should cause problems for Texas on both ends of the floor, and the Tigers' intensity at home typically overwhelms opponents in the opening minutes before the game settles into a more physical second-half battle. The Longhorns will need their best performance of the SEC season to escape with a win.

Game 4
Peacock

#25 St. John's @ Butler

Wednesday, 7:00 PM ET | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Spread
SJU -12.5 (-110)
Moneyline
SJU -650 / BUT +450
Total
O/U 162.5

Rick Pitino's Red Storm are rolling. Fresh off Pitino's historic 900th career victory, St. John's at 15-5 (8-1 Big East) has been one of the best stories in college basketball this season. The Red Storm are heavy 12.5-point favorites against a Butler team sitting at 13-7 (4-5 Big East), and this spread speaks to the massive gulf between these two programs right now. Pitino's coaching genius has elevated this roster beyond all preseason expectations.

St. John's has been dominant in conference play, riding an impressive 8-1 Big East record that has them firmly in the hunt for the conference title. Their defense has been stifling in league play, and their offensive execution has been crisp and purposeful under Pitino's direction. Butler has had a respectable season overall, but the Bulldogs face an enormous challenge against a team playing with this much momentum and confidence.

The 162.5 total suggests a game with moderate scoring potential, but St. John's defensive intensity could suppress Butler's output significantly. Hinkle Fieldhouse is one of college basketball's most iconic venues, and Butler will draw energy from their home crowd, but this is a potential statement game for the Red Storm as they continue to build their NCAA Tournament resume. Pitino has his team playing with a discipline and swagger that has the Big East on notice.