Two top-10 team meet when the 4th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (17-3) host the No. 10 Texas Longhorns (17-3) in Knoxville Saturday for an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup. Tip-off is'at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Texas vs. Tennessee odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
After the firing of coach Chris Beard earlier this season (following an arrest on felony domestic abuse charges), it was wait and see to find out how the Longhorns would manage the circumstances and if it would affect the morale of the team. At No. 10 in the country, the question has seemingly been answered and Texas is going to be fine.
In their last game, the Longhorns beat conference foe Oklahoma State 89-75 as an 8-point favorite Tuesday. This was Texas’ 2nd win in a row — it beat West Virginia 69-61 Jan. 21 as a 1-point road underdog. The Longhorns average 80.5 points per game (ranking 22nd according to NCAA.org) and allow 66.8 PPG (107th).