Tennessee Volunteers at Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview
No. 22 Tennessee hasn’t had an easy ride to start SEC play. The Volunteers, who are 11-4 overall and 2-2 in conference, lost to the two ranked opponents they played and had to go to overtime to beat 10th-place Ole Miss. Winning in Rupp Arena against No. 18 Kentucky, which is 13-3 and 3-1 in SEC play, would show a big step forward for the Volunteers.
Kentucky has won its past two conference games by double digits. The Wildcats have won 12 straight at home and are seeking their first home victory over Tennessee since 2019. Under coach John Calipari, the Wildcats are 65-40 against Top 25 opponents.
Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview: Time to Shine
Tennessee is 9-0 this season when it wins the rebounding margin, but that won’t be an easy task against Kentucky. The Wildcats lead the country by outrebounding their opponents by an average of 15.1 rebounds per game. The Volunteers have relied on the 3-point shot more this season than in past years.
Tennessee, which averages 8.9 3-pointers per game, has seen 35.6 percent of its points from the perimeter this season, as opposed to 27.5 last year.
Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler, who average 13.6 and 13.4 points per game, respectively, are the Volunteers’ top lead scores. Josiah-Jordan James leads Tennessee by pulling down 6.1 rebounds per game.
As a group, Tennessee shoots 43.7 percent from the field. The Volunteers’ defense blocks 4.9 shots and produces 10.7 steals per game.
Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview: Pound the Glass
Wildcats junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe leads the country by grabbing 15.1 rebounds per game and has recorded 12 double-doubles. Tshiebwe is the catalyst for a Kentucky team that is first in rebounding margin, third in rebounds per game, 10th in offensive rebounds per game, and 16th in defensive rebounds per game. The Wildcats’ defense has also been tough on opposing 3-point shooters, limiting them to 30.1 percent shooting from the outside.
Kentucky’s offensive punch is much deeper than Tshiebwe, who leads the team by scoring 17.0 points per game. TyTy Washington (13.7 points per game), Kellan Grady (11.6), and Keion Brooks Jr. (10.7) also average in double figures.
The Wildcats average 82.6 points per game and shoot 49.6 percent from the field. Kentucky averages 4.9 blocks per game.
Betting Odds & Lines
Top sportsbooks have Kentucky as a 4.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 142.5 points. Tennessee is 9-6 against the spread.
The Volunteers have seen the total go under in nine of their games. Kentucky is 8-8 against the spread. The over is 7-9 in the Wildcats’ games this season.
Prediction
Kentucky has been stout at home this season, as always. Tennessee has had a hard time getting going since SEC play started. The Wildcats’ defense and rebounding will be too much for the Volunteers.
Expect Kentucky to cover the spread and move to 4-1 in SEC play.
