The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0-7, 0-2 OVC) visit the 10th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (3-0, 0-0 SEC) Friday for a 7 p.m. tip at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. Below, we analyze the Tennessee Tech-Tennessee college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Volunteers are No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Tennessee Tech at Tennessee: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: There was no money line listed at the time of publishing, likely because the spread is so large.
- Against the spread/ATS: Tennessee Tech +28.5 (-110) | Tennessee -28.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 127 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Tennessee Tech at Tennessee: Three things to know
- The Golden Eagles have been roughed up through seven outings, losing straight up all seven times while covering just twice. In their most recent outing, they were spanked 74-50 in the second end of a doubleheader against OVC conference mate Jacksonville State. They have faced top-tier teams, Xavier and Indiana, falling by 30 to the Hoosiers on Nov. 25, and falling by 31 to the Musketeers on Dec. 2.
- The Volunteers roughed up Appalachian State by a 79-38 score, easily covering a 19-point spread. Not only are the Vols 3-0 SU, but they have covered each game to date. Defensively Tennessee is allowed just 47.0 PPG, second in the nation, and their defensive field-goal percentage (33.6) is sixth in the country.
- Tennessee Tech ranks 311th in the nation with just 59.7 points per game, and they’re 308th in 3-pointer shooting at 25.5 percent while checking in 288th with a dismal 62.9 free-throw percentage.
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Tennessee Tech at Tennessee: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Tennessee 83, Tennessee Tech 47
Money line (ML)
No money line listed. It wouldn’t be worth pursuing, anyway.
Against the spread (ATS)
TENNESSEE -28.5 (-110) seems like a risky play on paper because they’re rather deliberate on offense and do not score a lot at 66.7 PPG. However, their defense is ferocious, and it won’t take much doing for the Vols to cover.
The winless Golden Eagles, who were waffled by Jacksonville State last time out, aren’t suddenly going to find their rhythm against one of the best defensive clubs in the nation.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 127 (-110) is worth playing lightly. Yes, Tennessee Tech will find it very, very difficult to score on Tennessee. But the Vols will likely have their most productive offensive output of the season against the struggling Golden Eagles, who have allowed 73 or more points in each of the past three.
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