Georgia Bulldogs vs Oklahoma Sooners Picks and Predictions March 12th 2025

Georgia Looks to Improve NCAA Tournament Seeding vs. Oklahoma

Georgia and Oklahoma will square off in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn., with plenty at stake for both teams. While Georgia’s NCAA Tournament berth is essentially secure, the Bulldogs are looking to improve their tournament positioning. Oklahoma, on the other hand, still has work to do as it fights for a spot in the big dance.

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Georgia’s Push to Strengthen NCAA Tournament Position

The Bulldogs (20-11) enter the game as the No. 11 seed in the SEC Tournament and are aiming to improve their position in the NCAA Tournament field. This would mark Georgia’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015 and just their fourth appearance in the last 23 years. Despite feeling confident about their tournament chances, Georgia head coach Mike White remains focused on their performance in the SEC Tournament.

“Nothing has changed for us,” White said. “Every practice, every game, mid-majors, nonconference, conference games, it’s about being our best and striving for growth.”

The Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak, including a notable 88-83 win over then-No. 3 Florida on February 25. With a solid finish to the season, Georgia is looking to continue their momentum into the tournament.

Oklahoma’s Hope to Secure an NCAA Berth

For Oklahoma (19-12), the journey to an NCAA Tournament bid has been a roller coaster. After a tough stretch in SEC play, the Sooners had their tournament chances hanging by a thread following back-to-back heartbreaking losses to Kentucky (83-82) and Ole Miss (87-84). However, they kept their hopes alive with a win against No. 15 Missouri and a crucial victory at Texas on Saturday.

Despite a rough start to their SEC campaign, Oklahoma has found some recent success, and coach Porter Moser is looking to build on that momentum. Jeremiah Fears, who struggled during the earlier meeting with Georgia, is a key part of Oklahoma’s resurgence, averaging 18.8 points and 5.5 assists in the last four games.

Key Player Matchup: Point Guards Silas Demary Jr. vs. Jeremiah Fears

The key to success for both teams lies in their point guard play. When these teams met earlier in the season on January 11, Georgia won 72-62, and both point guards—Silas Demary Jr. for Georgia and Jeremiah Fears for Oklahoma—had off nights. Demary went just 1-for-7 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts in that game. However, Demary has since turned things around. In the Bulldogs’ current four-game winning streak, he has been shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from beyond the arc, averaging 19.5 points per game.

“He’s really playing at a high, high level,” said Moser of Demary. “They rebound so well. They’re so big and physical.”

On the other side, Fears, who struggled in the previous matchup by shooting just 1-for-11 from the floor, has found his rhythm recently, helping Oklahoma maintain its postseason aspirations.

“Fears is in an unbelievable rhythm, and so is Silas,” said White. “They space you. They’ve got versatile guys. They can touch paint at multiple positions.”

Free-Throw Advantage and Key Statistics

In their earlier matchup, Georgia took a 20-point advantage at the free-throw line, converting 27-of-37 free throws compared to just 7-of-9 for Oklahoma. This disparity could be crucial again in Wednesday’s game, as free-throw shooting and aggressive play will likely be key to both teams’ strategies.

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Next Round and Tournament Outlook

The winner of this matchup will go on to play sixth-seeded Kentucky on Thursday, which could further impact their tournament positioning. With both teams aiming to improve their seed and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, this game is pivotal for both Georgia and Oklahoma as they fight for better placement in the postseason.

For Georgia, it’s all about maintaining their momentum and improving their seeding as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament. For Oklahoma, every game is a must-win as they battle to secure an at-large bid and make their first NCAA Tournament appearance under Porter Moser. The point guard battle and free-throw shooting will likely play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of this crucial SEC Tournament matchup.