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<h1 class="article">SEC tournament: Championship preview and picks</h1><span class="smtext2"><font face="Verdana" size="2">By DAVID JONES | March 14, 2009</font></span> <div id="divBodyContent">
Southeastern Conference tournament games are being played in Tampa, FL.</p>
<font color="#3300CC">Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers</font> (-4.5)</p>
It will be a contrast of styles on display in Tampa Sunday.</p>
Mississippi State will try to grind out a win with defense. Tennessee will seek to play their quick tempo game to counter the defense of
the <nobr id="itxt_nobr_1_0" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%">Bulldogs
</nobr>.</p>
The team that controls the pace will likely be cutting the nets down at the end of the day.</p>
Despite their 22 wins and presence in this championship game, the Bulldogs only path to March Madness will be with a victory over the Vols. A down year for the SEC is proving to be costly for bubble squads like Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have at least given the NCAA selection committee something to ponder with their fine play this week.</p>
Mississippi State has allowed an average of only 62 points per game in double digit victories over Georgia, South Carolina and regular season SEC champion LSU. In Saturday's semi-final win over LSU, the Bulldogs limited the Tigers to just 57 points and 31 percent shooting from the field.</p>
After many recent disappointments in the SEC tournament, Tennessee is in the championship game for the first time since 1991. In victories over Alabama and Auburn, the Vols have averaged 90 points per game. In Saturday's win, forward <a class="autolinks"><font color="#3300CC">Wayne Chism</font></a> posted a career-high 27 points as Tennessee shot over 57percent from the field. The Vols also dominated the boards by a count of 40-24.</p>
In their regular season meeting in Knoxville, the Vols set the tempo in an 81-76 victory. Tennessee's defense stepped up to force 17 turnovers while winning the rebounding battle 35-27.</p>
The Bulldogs don't want to get into a track meet with the Vols. In addition, Mississippi State has had to play an extra game to reach this title contest. So, the Bulldogs are the club that could more likely get worn down on Sunday.</p>
Still, the wave of momentum and urgency to win can offset tired legs. Win or lose, the Vols are heading to the
NCAA <nobr id="itxt_nobr_9_0" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%">tournament
</nobr> for the fourth straight year under head coach Bruce Pearl. For Mississippi State, this is basically a first-round NCAA game.</p>
In other words, a loss will send the Bulldogs to the NIT. With some situational advantages, Mississippi State's defense comes through again to punch a ticket to the NCAA field of 65.</p>
<font size="5">
Final score prediction: Mississippi State 74, Tennessee 73</font></p> </div>
