The Cincinnati Bearcats (2-1) make the trip south to visit the Tennessee Volunteers (1-0) in Saturday non-conference action in Knoxville, Tenn. The Bearcats and Vols are slated to tip-off at Thompson-Boling Arena at 12:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Cincinnati-Tennessee college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Tennessee is ranked No. 16 in the Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Cincinnati at Tennessee: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cincinnati +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Tennessee -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cincinnati +7 (-110) | Tennessee -7 (-110)
- Over/Under: 131.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Cincinnati at Tennessee: things to know
- The Volunteers are 1-for-6 in getting games in thus far. UT has already had five games canceled since their originally-scheduled Nov. 25 opener. In between, Tennessee picked up a solid 56-47 home win against Colorado Tuesday. UT was solid on defense, holding the Buffaloes to a 33% mark from the field and forcing 22 turnovers.
- Cincinnati won two and lost one over a trio of home games. Saturday’s tilt in Knoxville marks the first road game of the season for a Bearcats team that went 4-7 against the spread in 11 away games last season. Turnovers committed and keeping foes off the offensive glass were key categories in which UC struggled when on the road.
- The 2020-21 Vols return four of their top six scorers from a year ago when UT went 17-14. Tennessee played a slow-pace style and averaged just 67.1 points per game (291st of 353 NCAA-I). An influx of new talent — three five-star recruits (G Keon Johnson, F Corey Walker and G Jaden Springer) — have the Volunteers well-placed in several early-season polls.
Cincinnati at Tennessee: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Tennessee 71, Cincinnati 61
Money line (ML)
UC is replacing three of its top five players (in terms of playing time). Peg the Bearcats to be on a bit of a downturn, if not for the whole season then at least in the first month or so.
TAKE TENNESSEE (-350).
Against the spread (ATS)
Cincinnati’s 2019-20 road struggles were especially evident early when the Bearcats started their road campaign with three straight ATS losses. With a hot shooting performance (60% effective field-goal mark) in its last outing, UC figures to be a tad overvalued.
An early-afternoon tip against a reloading Tennessee squad that can defend and create takeaways does the Bearcats no favors. Head coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee teams have been strong out of the gate/early-season performers.
BACK THE VOLS -7 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
Both sides of the equation figure as slow-pace. There aren’t enough early-season clues pointing any other way and the figure here looks to be well constructed. PASS.
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