The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (9-2, 0-0 SEC) meet the No. 19 Alabama (9-3, 0-0) as both teams open SEC play Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Below, we look at the Tennessee vs. Alabama odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Tennessee has won three straight — all at home — since losing to Texas Tech Dec. 7. The Volunteers now play just their second true road game of the season and their first since Dec. 4.
UT’s defense (59.3 points per game) ranks second in the SEC. The Vols have held five of their last six foes under 40% from the field.
Alabama is coming off an upset loss to Davidson Dec. 21. The Crimson Tide was undone 79-78 in a game that saw them favored by 9.5. UA got to the line just eight times in that game; that after averaging 20.1 attempts in its previous eight games.
Crimson Tide G Jaden Shackelford ranks fourth in the SEC in scoring. Shackelford scored 20 against Davidson and is averaging 16.8 points per game.
Tennessee at Alabama odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:15 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Tennessee +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Alabama -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Tennessee +4.5 (-115) | Alabama -4.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Tennessee at Alabama odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Alabama 81, Tennessee 76
Money line
Tennessee’s most recent win — a 77-73 triumph over then-No. 4 Arizona — was impressive. And UT was a solid play at -1.0 in that one at home. But the Vols look to be getting a bit too much attention for this tough road tilt. And the bigger bets have been coming in on the Tide.
Alabama is a more consistent shooting team. Tennessee is prone to some extended shooting slumps that against UA-type pace could be more costly than normal.
TAKE THE CRIMSON TIDE (-200).
Against the spread
Alabama is 0-4 ATS in its last four games. Look for that trend to come to a halt in this one, but the money line play is the higher-confidence action. CONSIDER ALABAMA -4.5 (-107) AS A PARTIAL-UNIT PLAY, perhaps as a release valve on the money line wager.
Over/Under
Both teams push the pace, but a high-profile conference clash with some built-in rest/rust issues (both teams have been off for a week-plus) has this total in the ballpark.
PASS, but put this game on a line watch: look to leverage the Under at 149.5-or higher.
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