The No. 15 Arkansas Razorbacks (24-6, 13-4 SEC) visit Thompson–Boling Arena to take on the No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers (22-7, 13-4) Saturday. Tip is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Arkansas vs. Tennessee odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Arkansas has been a covering machine as of late, posting an 9-1-1 against the spread (ATS) record over its last 11. The Razorbacks are just 18-11-1 ATS on the season, yet are a league-best 11-6 ATS in SEC play.
Arkansas is led by G JD Notae, who leads the team in points (18.8), assists (3.6) and steals (2.1) per game.
The Volunteers are in the middle of the pack at 9-8 ATS against SEC opponents. However, they’re a solid 17-12 ATS for the season and 6-4 ATS in their last 10. They are also a perfect 15-0 straight up at home.
Tennessee is led by a committee as five players average more than 8.0 points per game. G Kennedy Chandler and G Santiago Vescovi are the Volunteers’ top scorers at 13.6 PPG and 13.5 PPG, respectively.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Arkansas at Tennessee odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:24 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Arkansas +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | Tennessee -320 (bet $320 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Arkansas +6.5 (-108) | Tennessee -6.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Arkansas at Tennessee odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 75, Arkansas 72
Money line
PASS.
The Vols should end the season undefeated at home. They’ve beaten the best the SEC had to offer on their home court.
I wouldn’t bet against their ability to win this game, but at -320, there’s little value.
Against the spread
LEAN to ARKANSAS +6.5 (-108).
As noted, Arkansas is the best SEC team at covering conference matchups. It is also 2-1 ATS as away underdogs and 3-1 ATS against ranked opponents.
The Razorbacks had a stretch in December in which they lost five of six, but since then (Jan. 9), they’ve lost just once, going 14-1 record against mainly conference opponents.
Arkansas is good enough to hang with Tennessee, and beating the Vols the first time they met this season – 58-48 at home Feb. 19 – proved just that.
While I still expect the Vols to come out on top, it should be a close one.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 139.5 (-108).
I don’t have a ton of strong plays in this game, but I do favor the Over.
The main reason is because of Arkansas’ pace. It averages the 30th-most possessions per game in the nation. Notae is the real deal and could be among the five best pure scorers in the conference. Arkansas is 17-13 O/U this season.
The Vols lost to the Razorbacks and scored just 48 points in their first matchup. The two teams shot 27% and 31% from the field, respectively.
Assuming there’s a return to normal percentages, both teams should be able to combine for 140 or more.
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