Tennessee!!!!

TENNESSEE

I really like the match-up here today. Tennessee is coming off an embarrassing loss to South Carolina. They now get to come home to play what I believe is an average Alabama team. Prior to losing to South Carolina, Tennessee was playing extremely well and I look for them to get right back on track. Their coach called the game a “bump in the road,” and I believe that is just the case.

Alabama has been brutal on the road this year, going 0-6 ATS. In addition the Tide is an amazing 1-13 ATS after playing a game at home on the season. Meanwhile, the Vols are 12-2 ATS when playing a team with a winning record this year. If you at the common opponents these two team have played, you will see that Tennessee is 9-0 ATS (6-3 SU), while Alabama is 1-8 ATS (2-7 SU).

The Vols are a good team getting some national recognition…and they BELIEVE they are good. Their defense is holding opponents to 42.4 percent shooting from the field and just 27.8 percent from three-point range. If by any chance this game goes down to the wire, you can be confident knowing that Tennessee leads the SEC with a 73.5 free throw percentage. UT has held 20 of 22 opponents to under 50 percent shooting from the field and they are 14-1 when holding opponents under 70 points. So, considering that Alabama averages 61.4 ppg on the road I feel good about them staying under the 70 point mark today.

This is a classic case of two teams going different directions. Alabama started strong but are clearly fading now. Dick Vitale called the Vols the Team of the Week on Feb. 17th and they are out to prove they should have been, even after the set back against South Carolina.

I look for a fairly easy win today for Tennessee.

GOOD LUCK!