The Georgia Bulldogs entered Tuesday night on the outside looking in according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi. However, after head coach Mike White pulled off an 88-83 win over No. 3 Florida, his former program, in Athens, the Bulldogs will almost certainly make the jump from the “First Four Out” to the “First Four In” when Lunardi makes his updates.
White’s Dawgs were led by sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. who finished the night with 21 points, but sophomore wing Blue Cain closed out the upset with a dagger three in the final minute.
Lunardi currently has four SEC teams on the bubble, so the Bulldogs could take the place of John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks, or bump out Porter Moser’s Oklahoma Sooners from their spot in the Big Dance. However, the Dawgs may just join the group of 13 SEC teams currently in the tournament according to Lunardi, already the most of any conference in the country.
Georgia now owns wins over Florida, Kentucky, and St. John's. That's a strong resume for a team that's on the bubble. Bulldogs hold off UF in Athens.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 26, 2025
Along with likely putting the most teams into the tournament, the SEC will almost certainly hog the top seeds in March Madness. Auburn is poised to claim the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are unlikely to be knocked off the one-line even if they stumble down the stretch. Along with Auburn, Lunardi also featured Alabama and the Florida Gators as one-seeds in his latest bracket release. Florida may fall off the one-line just a day after sliding from No. 2 in the AP Poll to No. 3 behind Duke, Lunardi’s other one-seed.
According to Lunardi, Iowa State, Houston, Michigan State, and Tennessee would be the candidates to replace the Gators if Georgia’s upset win does shake up the top of the bracket.
For the Gators, it was the second time this season that they lost to a team on the road that they had previously beaten by 30 points at home. The other team was Tennessee, which may take Florida’s place as a one-seed this March.
There is still time before the SEC Tournament, and a lot can change over the five days in Nashville, but no matter what, the loaded SEC will be the dominant conference on Selection Sunday, and on Tuesday night in Athens, Georgia reminded everyone just how deep the conference is.