The Florida Gators (12-6, 3-3 SEC) pay a visit to the No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers (13-5, 4-3) Wednesday evening. The contest at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., is scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET tip. Below, we look at the Florida vs. Tennessee 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.
Florida is coming off an odd 61-42 win over Vanderbilt Saturday and then a 70-54 loss at Ole Miss Monday. Against Vandy, the Gators outshot the Commodores 38.3% to 28.9%. UF had won three straight games, though against three weaker SEC squads (Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, South Carolina) before falling Monday. Florida has not defeated what would be considered a top-40-caliber opponent since Nov. 24 (71-68 win over Ohio State).
Tennessee went 2-0 last week, bouncing back after a horrendous 107-79 loss to Kentucky Jan. 15. The Wildcats shot 67.9% from the floor in that game; UT held Vandy and LSU to a combined 37.9% last week. The Volunteers are 10-0 at home; in the last calendar year, they have lost just once at Thompson-Boling Arena (Feb. 20 vs. UK).
Florida at Tennessee odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Florida +420 (bet $100 to win $420) | Tennessee -600 (bet $600 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Florida +9.5 (-102) | Tennessee -9.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Florida at Tennessee odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 74, Florida 62
Money line
PASS: the lean is on the home five, but the price makes for too high a bar to yield any value.
Against the spread
The Gators are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games. The Volunteers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite. The home team is 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings. The favorite is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
And the home favorite is a small-to-moderate lean in this contest. The Vols’ performance on home hardwood has been impressive, and Wednesday they get a UF squad on short rest after another tough road tilt.
TAKE TENNESSEE -9.5 (-122).
Over/Under
Defense likely carries the day in this one, but the total reflects that – and to too great a degree. Peg both sides to get some theft-and-transition baskets to make up for a lack of triples. Florida does well to get to the line, and Tennessee may get its charity tosses in clutch-and-grab time late.
The lean is a small one but its one on the OVER 133.5 (-107).
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