The McNeese Cowboys (2-5) and the No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) meet Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the McNeese vs. Tennessee odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
The Cowboys have managed wins against just Champion Christian from Arkansas in their season opener (Nov. 7), a team from the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA), and a narrow 66-57 win over Lamar on Nov. 20.
The Volunteers are coming off a convincing 64-50 win over Kansas on a neutral floor Friday, Tennessee has won 4 games in a row while going 3-1 against the spread and 3-1 to the Under.
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McNeese at Tennessee odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Off the board
- Against the spread (ATS): McNeese +33.5 (-110) | Tennessee -33.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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McNeese at Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 87, McNeese 49
Moneyline
There was no money line at the time of publishing.
Against the spread
TENNESSEE -33.5 (-110) comes into this with a little bit of risk, as leading scorer G Josiah-Jordan James (13.7 PPG) is nursing a knee injury and is questionable to play. With a game the Vols are expected to win rather handily, he could be rested as a precaution.
McNeese s horrific defensively, allowing 75.3 PPG to rank 315th in the nation, and it is allowing 47.0 FG%, which is 328th overall.
Tennessee ranks 10th in the nation, allowing just 55.3 PPG, and it has held opponents to just 36.7% from the field, good for 21st overall. McNeese will have a rough time scoring, whether James is in there or not.
Over/Under
OVER 133.5 (-105) is the lean, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tennessee flirt with the century mark against a bad Cowboys defense.
The Vols should have a season-high in offensive production in this one, as the Cowboys have been one of the worst Division I teams at the defensive end.
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