An intriguing Big 12-SEC matchup is on tap this coming weekend in Knoxville, as the West Virginia Mountaineers (+25,000 to win national title) bring their talents to the home of the No 1. Tennessee Volunteers. Will the Mountaineers upset Tennessee (+800) in front of this home crowd? Or will the Vols show West Virginia why they are the fresh kings of college basketball AP Poll?
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Betting Preview for the West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Tennessee Volunteers College Basketball Game on January 26, 2019
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville
When: Saturday, January 26, 2019, 4:00 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers (odds) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (9-10 Overall / 1-6 Conference)
After a solid 65-64 home win over the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks last Saturday, the Mountaineers failed to double up, as they fell victims to the Baylor Bears at home on Monday, 85-73. A win over Baylor would have given West Virginia added momentum heading into a date with the new No. 1 team in the nation in the form of Tennessee. Still, the win over Kansas showed that there is still life in West Virginia’s renowned ‘Press Virginia’ defense. The Mountaineers limited Kansas to only 43.6 shooting from the field and to a 5-for-16 line from behind the arc. The Mountaineers also forced Kansas to cough up the ball 18 times, thanks to their pesky defense. West Virginia had 11 steals against the Jayhawks and had 11 more against the Bears.
West Virginia is averaging 74.5 points per game and allows 73.9 points per contest.
The Mountaineers are 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last four meetings with the Volunteers, dating back to 2000. On the road so far this season, West Virginia is 0-4 straight up (SU) and 2-2 ATS.
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (16-1 Overall / 5-0 Conference)
As mentioned earlier, the Vols are the newly installed No. 1 team in the nation. That’s after another immaculate week in which Tennessee defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks, 106-87, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, 71-68, both at home. Tennessee’s first test this week is a road date with the Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday, but the Vols are expected to steamroll past that opponent. After all, Vanderbilt is generally perceived as the worst team in the SEC. Against ‘Bama, Grant Williams led the way again against West Virginia, as he scored 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the field. He’s clearly recovered from a four-point dud in a road win over the Missouri Tigers earlier this month. Meanwhile, Williams’ tag-team partner, Admiral Schofield, had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds against Alabama. Tennessee boasts of a high-flying offense that is fifth in the nation with 86.1 points per game, while the Vols’ defense is nothing to scoff at either, as it allows just 68.2 points per game.
At home so far this season, the Volunteers are 13-0 SU and 5-5-1- ATS, while having gone 3-1 ATS in its last four games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee wins, 78-69.
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