The Oklahoma Sooners and the Tennessee Volunteers meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Here’s a Tennessee vs Oklahoma prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Tennessee vs Oklahoma pick.
Oklahoma Sooners Betting Preview
The Sooners were looking pretty good over their first 14 games. Oklahoma was sitting at 11-3 overall at that point. Unfortunately losses came versus Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Kentucky in the next nine games. After wins over Vanderbilt and Georgia in the next pair, the Sooners were sitting at 13-12 over their first 25 games.
In the Georgia matchup over the weekend, the Sooners were down by two points 43-41 going into the second half. Oklahoma woke up in the remainder of the game, powering out a 53-35 advantage during a big win on their home court 94-78 in the end. Tae Davis topped the team on 19 points with five rebounds and three assists while Nijel Pack added 18 points with six rebounds and three assists.
Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview
Over on the Tennessee side, they were 10-3 back in late December. The Volunteers would lose three of the next four games versus Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky however. Tennessee has since hit a 6-1 run over the last seven outings, beating Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU in that time. Over 25 games so far this year that gives the Vols an 18-7 record this season.
In the LSU game back on Saturday the Volunteers were sitting in the locker room with a 35-29 advantage. Tennessee hit a 38-34 run the rest of the way and finished with a victory on their home floor 73-63 by the finish. Nate Ament was tops on 22 points with nine rebounds in the win, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 12 points and six assist.s JP Estrella had 16 points and nine rebounds in the winning effort as well.
Why the Tennessee Volunteers will win
- Tennessee has won each of its last 18 night games at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Oklahoma has lost each of its last six night games against Conference opponents.
- Tennessee has won the first half in 13 of its last 14 games at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Why the Oklahoma Sooners will win
- Tennessee has lost four of its last five games following a home win.
Tennessee vs Oklahoma Prediction
I’ll lean toward Oklahoma. In their win over Georgia on Saturday the Sooners shot a very nice 58.9 percent from the filed with 56 percent (14-of-25) from 3-point range. Oklahoma got outscored in the paint 40-28 and gave up 51.7 percent shooting on defense, though. The Sooners have now won consecutive games after that ugly losing streak, posting a combined 186 points in that pair of victories.
As for Tennessee, they shot a solid 46.3 percent from the field with a 41-22 rebounding edge and just eight turnovers in their win over LSU. The Vols added a 34-18 advantage on points in the paint and held the Tigers to just 38.2 percent shooting as well. Tennessee is 6-1 in their last seven games and looking very good these days. We should have a fun matchup here; I like the Sooners to power out a cover if all goes well.