Kentucky vs. Tennessee Pick
Can No. 17 Kentucky go on the road and pick up another SEC win when the Wildcats take on No. 23 Tennessee tonight at 9PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Tennessee is the slight favorite at home in this game, as the Volunteers are getting odds of -3 points against Kentucky. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 147.5 points. Tonight’s game takes place from Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee and will air live on the SEC Network.
Kentucky is on a three-game win streak right now, including victories over Georgia and LSU. The Wildcats are now 12-2 on the season, 2-0 in the SEC and 7-7 against the spread. They are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games. The Wildcats are putting up 79.9 points per game this season while giving up 69.1 per contest. Kevin Knox is leading Kentucky with 14.6 points and 6 rebounds per game while Hamidou Diallo is adding 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Tennessee is coming off back-to-back losses to Arkansas and Auburn. The Volunteers are 9-4 overall, 0-2 in the SEC and 6-5 against the spread. The Vols have failed to cover in their last four home games. Tennessee is averaging 79.2 points per game on offense this season while allowing 70.2 per game on defense. Grant Williams is leading Tennessee with 15.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Admiral Schofield is adding 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest.
The home team has won eight of the last nine meetings in this series and the Vols have covered in three of their last four against the Wildcats. Kentucky is a team that just hasn’t quite pieced it all together right now. Their young roster is streaky and the concerns me on the road. Tennessee has managed to play Kentucky tough in recent years when the Wildcats had better teams. I expect the Vols to make things tough again today, as they are desperate for a win in conference play. The public betting is backing Kentucky, but I will take the home team.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: TENNESSEE -3