Tennessee Volunteers (15-5) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (15-5)
February 3, 2024 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Kentucky Wildcats +1.5 ; Over/Under: -
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The Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats meet Saturday in college basketball action from Rupp Arena. Tennessee is sitting at 15-5 overall. The Volunteers took a loss to South Carolina in their last outing. As for Kentucky, they’re fresh off a Wednesday matchup with Florida. In that one the Wildcats fell to 15-5 as well with an overtime loss. Let’s get into our Tennessee vs. Kentucky prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers lost three of their first seven games, then took wins over George Mason, Illinois, Georgia Southern, NC State, Tarleton State, Norfolk State and Ole Miss in succession. Tennessee is 4-2 in their last six with wins over Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Vanderbilt between losses to Mississippi State and South Carolina.
Matched up against South Carolina on Tuesday, the Volunteers trailed by four points going into the second half. Tennessee kept the pace from there with 33 more points but still lost 63-59. Dalton Knecht was the team’s leading scorer in the defeat with 31 points and seven rebounds.
Kentucky Wildcats
Over on the Kentucky side, they lost just three of their first 15 games this year. Those defeats came versus Kansas, UNC Wilmington and Texas A&M. The Wildcats would go 3-1 in the next four games with a loss to South Carolina among wins versus Mississippi State, Georgia and Arkansas.
In the Wednesday matchup with Florida, the Wildcats held a five-point lead by halftime. Kentucky ended up having to go to overtime however, and got outscored 10-7 from there in a 94-91 loss. Reed Sheppard led the way on 24 points, and Ugonna Onyenso doubled on 13 points and 16 rebounds.
ANDREW’S FREE TENNESSEE VS KENTUCKY PREDICTION
I’ll stick with Kentucky. The Wildcats need a good bounce-back effort here following a rough second half/OT versus Florida. Kentucky shot 44.9 percent from the field in that one but got out-rebounded 50-48 and missed six of their 17 free throws (64.7 percent). That makes a 1-2 showing for the Wildcats in the last three games, and they’ll really have their hands full on Saturday.
As for Tennessee, they were pretty flat against a good South Carolina team in their last outing (36.2 percent shooting). The 59-point total was the Volunteers’ lowest of the season so far; they’re going to need a good offensive bounce-back in this one. I don’t think Tennessee will quite pull it off cover/win-wise against Kentucky, but it’ll be an interesting and competitive matchup nonetheless.
