The SEC/ACC Challenge ended up 14-2 in the SEC’s favor this year. The men’s NCAA Tournament bid disparity could end up almost that bad — a record-smashing 14 SEC teams in the field of 68 because Arkansas keeps rising, and a match of the ACC’s lowest all-time output of three because North Carolina, Wake Forest and Pitt can’t do enough late.

No matter who wins Saturday's showdown in Tuscaloosa, the course for a wild March Madness begins with Auburn and Alabama.