The Kentucky Wildcats pay the Tennessee Volunteers a visit in Knoxville this coming weekend for the two teams’ first meeting of the season. The Wildcats bring loads of talented players to the game, but the Vols have shown they can handle their own with their defense. Which team will end up on top? Kentucky and Tennessee are +2500 and +7500 to win the national title, respectively.
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Betting Preview for the Kentucky Wildcats vs Tennessee Volunteers NCAA College Basketball Game on February 8 2020
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville
When: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (Odds) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (Odds) – view all 2019-20 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (17-5 Overall / 7-2 Conference)
The Wildcats rebounded from a 75-66 road loss to the Auburn Tigers last week by venting their frustrations on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home, 80-72, last Tuesday. Forward Nick Richards recovered from a poor performance in the loss to Auburn and exploded for 27 points to go with 11 rebounds in 33 minutes of action in the win over the Bulldogs. Immanuel Quickley, the team’s leading scorer, had 21 points while also going 14 of 14 from the foul line. Overall, Kentucky went 31 of 36 on its free throws, which was impressive even when considering the fact that Kentucky is ninth in the nation with 24.3 free-throw attempts per game. The Wildcats have plenty of speedy, athletic, and aggressive players who can create shots on their own while also drawing lots of fouls off their defenders. In fact, Kentucky opponents are averaging 20.4 fouls per game, 15th-most in the nation. That could be a big problem for Tennessee, which is 199th overall in personal fouls per play.
The Wildcats are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last three games away from Lexington.
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (13-9 Overall / 5-4 Conference)
The Volunteers finally found their way out of a dark tunnel. After losing three games in succession, the Vols got a win by defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last Tuesday, 69-68. The Vols have been playing without guard Josiah-Jordan James over their last two games with the freshman nursing a groin injury, which hurt Tennessee of late, though, the team managed to brave through that in the Alabama game, thanks in large part to the production of forward John Fulkerson and guard Jordan Bowden, who had 22 and 20 points, respectively. The two will have to continue that kind of form against Kentucky at home. The team could also use better shot selection after going 2 of 18 from behind the arc against Alabama. On defense, the Vols know how to protect the rim. They had six blocks against Alabama and are eighth in the nation with 5.9 blocks per contest. Moreover, the Volunteers are third overall in defensive block percentage at the rim (18.4).
The under is 8-2 in the Vols’ last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee wins, 67-65.
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