The No. 5'Tennessee Volunteers'(15-5, 5-2 SEC) head to Rupp Arena to face the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats (15-5, 5-3) Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the'Tennessee vs. Kentucky odds'as we make our expert'college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Tennessee, which is No. 5 in the', had its 4-game win streak snapped Tuesday night at the hands of the South Carolina Gamecocks, 63-59. It lost outright as a 14-point favorite, and the Under (135.5) hit. Senior G Dalton Knecht led Tennessee with 31 points, which was the 5th time he’s crossed the 30-point threshold this season. Only 1 other Volunteer scored in double figures. Despite the disappointing home loss, Tennessee has won its last 2 SEC road games.
The No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats lost a heartbreaker at home in overtime to the Florida Gators Wednesday, 94-91. They lost outright as 7.5-point favorites, and the Over (171.5) hit. Freshman G Reed Sheppard filled up the stat sheet for the Wildcats with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks. 7-foot F Ugonna Onyenso dominated in the paint, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking 8 shots. Kentucky scores 88.7 points per game (PPG), which is the 3rd-most in the country.
These teams have split their last 10 matchups, with Kentucky winning the most recent meeting 66-54 last Feb. 18. The Wildcats covered as 1.5-point underdogs, and the game went Under (132.5).