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The Arkansas Razorbacks (11-2) open up conference play against the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers (13-0) Saturday. Tip-off from Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville is set for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Arkansas vs. Tennessee odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Razorbacks extended their win streak to 6 games with a 92-62 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies as 16.5-point home favorites Monday while the Over (138.5) cashed. Arkansas’ defense dominated, holding Oakland to just 2-for-17 (11.8%) from beyond the arc. Freshman standout G Boogie Fland led all scorers with 24 points, adding 6 assists and 2 rebounds.
Tennessee remained undefeated with a 67-52 win over the visiting Norfolk State Spartans as a 30.5-point favorite Tuesday while the Under (140.5) cashed. G Chaz Lanier led all scorers with 24 points, while the Volunteers defense stood strong, forcing 13 turnovers and blocking 8 shots in the victory.
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Arkansas at Tennessee odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 12:07 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Arkansas +525 (bet $100 to win $525) | Tennessee -750 (bet $750 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Arkansas +11.5 (+100) | Tennessee -11.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 143.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Arkansas at Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 76, Arkansas 62
Moneyline
PASS.
Tennessee (-750) will win its conference home opener, but you can’t bet 7.5 units to win 1 back. Lets take our wager to the spread and/or total.
Against the spread
BET TENNESSEE -11.5 (-120).
Tennessee’s experience and talent should be too much for Arkansas’ young, revamped roster in this matchup. The Volunteers have the best backcourt duo in the country with Lanier and G Zakai Zeigler, proving once again how elite guard play can carry a team, especially in tough conference games and March Madness.
Fland is among the most exciting young players, but starting SEC play on the road against the No. 1 team is a big ask. Add in Tennessee’s lockdown defense — holding teams to just 56.2 points per game — and it’s a steep challenge for the Razorbacks.
The Vols have also owned this rivalry lately, winning 4 of the last 5 games, including a massive 29-point blowout in Fayetteville, Ark., last season. While Arkansas has the talent to make this a game, the combination of Tennessee’s defense and veteran leadership makes it hard to bet against the Volunteers. Look for Tennessee to protect its home court and make another statement.
Over/Under
PASS.
This game feels like a stay-away spot for me, as the trends are all over the place. The Over has hit in 8 of the last 10 meetings, but Tennessee has gone Under in 4 of its last 5 games.
Both teams are top 50 in the nation in points per game allowed, giving up a combined 121.7 per game.
My lean would be toward the Under, given the defensive prowess, but I’m not confident enough to place a wager. This one feels too unpredictable, so I’ll leave it to you to decide.
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