The third-seeded Kentucky Wildcats (26-6) face the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (24-7) Saturday in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Tip-off from Amalie Arena in Tampa is 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Kentucky vs. Tennessee odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The No. 5 Wildcats are still in the mix for a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they likely need to win this tournament. Kentucky topped Vanderbilt 77-71 in the SEC quarterfinals to advance.
The No. 11 Volunteers topped the Wildcats 76-63 in Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 15, avenging a 107-79 loss in Lexington, Ky., Jan. 15. The Over cashed in that meeting in Kentucky and is now 7-3 across the past 10 in the series.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Kentucky vs. 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 7:21 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Kentucky -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Tennessee +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kentucky -2.5 (-107) | Tennessee +2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Kentucky vs. Tennessee odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Kentucky 72, Tennessee 70
Money line
KENTUCKY (-140) is worth the play in this rubber match if you don’t want to worry about the points. It’s not terribly overpriced, and a good play in what should be a very, very close game in Tampa.
Against the spread
TENNESSEE +2.5 (-115) is worth playing very lightly. This is going to be a close game, perhaps decided by a buzzer-beater. That’s how evenly matched these teams are. Kentucky is just a little deeper, and F Oscar Tshiebwe will be the difference-maker that he usually is.
Over/Under
The OVER 139.5 (-107) is worth playing lightly. We’ve seen the Over connect in seven of the previous 10 meetings in this series.
The Over is also 4-0 in the last neutral-site games for the Wildcats, while going 5-2 in the last seven against winning teams for UK. The Over is 11-5 in Tennessee’s past 16 games on a neutral floor, too, while cashing in four of its last five against winning sides.
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