The Tennessee Volunteers head to Lexington for a showdown with the Kentucky Wildcats. The Vols are looking to score not just a quality win here but a true Quadrant 1 victory, while the Wildcats will look to snatch a win against a ranked opponent as well. Check out our preview below of this Tennessee-Kentucky SEC college basketball matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Tennessee Volunteers vs Kentucky Wildcats NCAA College Basketball Game on January 15 2022
Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
When: Saturday, January 15, 2022, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Volunteers (odds) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (odds) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (odds)
Record: 10-3 Overall/1-2 Conference
The Vols failed to score a win against a ranked opponent last Saturday, as they fell prey to the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge to the tune of a 79-67 score. However, Tennessee managed to make the Tigers feel the wrath of the Volunteers’ defense that is currently ranked third in the nation in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency. The Vols, who are allowing opponents to score just 87.3 points per 100 possessions, gave up just nine points over nine minutes in the second half. What’s also fueling Tennessee defensively is the Vols’ active hands that are producing 10.6 steals per game, good for third-best in Division I basketball. Moreover, their 13.2 percent steal rate is second-best nationally. Guard Kennedy Chandler, who scored 19 points in the loss to LSU, is leading Tennessee’s offense with 13.8 points per game.
Tennessee, which faces the South Carolina Gamecocks at home Tuesday, is 3-2 against the spread in its last five games on the road.
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (odds)
Record: 12-3 Overall/2-1 Conference
Like Tennessee, the Wildcats got victimized by LSU in a 65-60 loss on Jan. 4 in Baton Rouge before rebounding with a 92-77 walloping of the Georgia Bulldogs at home last Saturday. The offensive outburst by Kentucky in the Georgia game was perhaps because of the Wildcats’ pent-up frustrations from being unable to perform at their usual high level in the loss to LSU. The Wildcats shot 57.1 percent from the field against Georgia and also sank 40 percent of their 3-pointers. Oscar Tshiebwe exploded for a monster double-double of 29 points and 17 assists, while TyTy Washington arguably had an even more impressive double-double with his 17 points and 17 dimes. Kentucky is eighth in the nation with an average of 82.9 points per game, but it can also get the job done on defense, as the Wildcats are 29th with only 61.9 points surrendered per contest.
Kentucky, which takes on the Vanderbilt Commodores on the road Tuesday, is 3-1 against the spread in its last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky wins, 75-67.
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