Georgia’s Tournament Hopes Hinge on Crucial Road Test at Oklahoma
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Georgia Bulldogs are walking a tightrope. At 17-7 overall and 5-6 in SEC play, Mike White’s squad is still very much in the NCAA Tournament picture-but the margin for error is getting thinner by the day.
Let’s start with the good news. Georgia picked up a massive road win at LSU last week, a decisive Quad 1 victory that gave their résumé a much-needed boost.
That win is a big reason why the Bulldogs are still sitting as a No. 10 seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update. But don’t let that seeding fool you-Georgia is just eight spots clear of the cut line.
That’s dangerously close to bubble territory.
As it stands, Lunardi projects Georgia to face No. 7 seed Saint Louis in the West Region, with the opening round being played in-of all places-St. Louis.
Win that, and a potential showdown with a powerhouse like Purdue could be waiting. But before any of that becomes reality, Georgia needs to take care of business down the stretch, starting with a critical road game at Oklahoma.
Why the Oklahoma Game Matters More Than It Should
On paper, Oklahoma doesn’t look like much of a threat. The Sooners are 12-12 overall and just 2-9 in SEC play.
But here’s where the NCAA’s NET rankings come into play. Oklahoma currently sits at No. 71 in the NET, and any road game against a team ranked 75 or better qualifies as a Quad 1 opportunity.
Translation: this is a golden chance for Georgia to grab another résumé-enhancing win.
Sure, Oklahoma isn’t tournament-bound. But that doesn’t matter.
If Georgia can go into Norman and take care of business, it goes down as a Quad 1 win-exactly the kind of data point the selection committee loves to see. And while there’s always the risk that Oklahoma’s NET could dip below 75 after a loss, that scenario seems unlikely at this stage.
In short, Georgia needs this one.
The Path Ahead: Seven Games, One Goal
Looking at Georgia’s final seven SEC games, the road to March Madness is challenging-but not impossible. Here’s the breakdown:
- Quad 1 games: at Oklahoma, at Kentucky, at Vanderbilt, home vs. Alabama
- Quad 2 games: home vs. Texas, at Mississippi State
- Quad 3 game: home vs. South Carolina
If Georgia can handle business in the Quad 2 and Quad 3 matchups-beating Texas, Mississippi State, and South Carolina-they’d finish the regular season at 20-11 overall and 8-10 in SEC play. That record, combined with their current résumé, likely keeps them above the cut line.
But to feel truly secure, they’ll need one more Quad 1 win. And realistically, Oklahoma might be their best shot.
Kentucky and Alabama are both top-tier SEC teams, and while Vanderbilt hasn’t been consistent, winning in Nashville is never a gimme. Georgia could steal one of those, sure-but counting on it is risky.
That’s why Saturday’s game in Norman looms so large.
What’s Working for Georgia Right Now
The Bulldogs already have a few quality wins on the board. That road victory over Missouri is aging well, and their home win over Arkansas carries weight, too.
But the selection committee values what you’ve done lately-and that’s where Georgia has to be careful. A late-season slide, even against good competition, could be costly.
There’s also the matter of momentum. Georgia’s win at LSU showed they can rise to the occasion on the road.
Now they need to prove it wasn’t a one-off. Beating Oklahoma would give them two Quad 1 road wins in as many weeks and send a clear message: this team belongs in the tournament.
Bottom Line
Georgia’s tournament hopes are still alive, but they’re far from locked in. The Bulldogs are sitting in that dangerous middle ground-good enough to be in the field today, but just one or two missteps away from falling out of it.
That makes the upcoming trip to Oklahoma more than just another game. It’s an opportunity-a must-have, resume-building, bracket-saving opportunity. If Georgia wants to hear its name called on Selection Sunday, the road to San Jose might just start in Norman.