Volunteers on Three-Game Winning Streak
The No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers go for a fourth straight win when they play host to the No. 10 Texas Longhorns in a SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup on Saturday. Tennessee is coming off an easy home win over Georgia on Wednesday and is in second place in the SEC standings. Texas has won two in a row, including a home victory over Oklahoma State on Tuesday, and is tied with Kansas State and Iowa State for the top spot in the Big 12. Both teams want a big-time win on their resume, so this game will be intense. Check out our in-depth preview to help you determine how to bet online.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Texas vs Tennessee. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Texas on Rare Road Trip
We’re near the end of January, and Saturday will be only the fifth true road game of the season for the Texas Longhorns. They’ve gone 3-1 in the previous four, but facing Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena may be the most difficult trip they’ve made.
To come away with the win, senior guard Marcus Carr will need to be at his best. Carr is averaging a team-high 17.6 points and 4.3 assists, and he’s scored 20 or more points in his last three outings. Carr also makes his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor, averaging 1.8 steals per contest.
Senior forward Timmy Allen is averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 5.3 rebounds, though he’s turned it up a bit lately. Allen has scored 17 points in three of the last five games, but in the other two contests, he tallied a total of 11 points.
Sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter will also be key against a tight Tennessee defense. He’s averaging 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
Tennessee Winning with Defense
The Tennessee Volunteers like to overwhelm an opponent with their pressure, especially in the backcourt. The guard tandem of Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi can take an opposing team out of its offense, as they did against Georgia on Wednesday, holding the Bulldogs to 29% shooting from the floor in a blowout win.
“(Tennessee’s) backcourt defense is as good as any,” Georgia coach Mike White said after Wednesday’s contest. “It all starts with Vescovi and Zeigler. They force you into mistakes.”
Zeigler had 11 points and seven assists, while Vescovi finished with eight points, six rebounds, four assists and six steals. Vescovi is leading the Volunteers in scoring at 12.2 points per game while Zeigler is contributing 10.7 points and a team-high 4.9 assists per contest. But it’s the defensive end where they are most effective, with Vescovi ranking second in the SEC with 2.4 steals per game, followed by Zeigler in third at 2.3 per contest.
The Volunteers are balanced offensively, with six players averaging between 8.9 and 12.2 points per game. Forwards Olivier Nkamhoua and Julian Phillips are the other double-digit scorers for coach Rick Barnes, averaging 10.3 and 10.0 points, respectively.
Texas vs Tennessee Injuries
Texas vs Tennessee Head-To-Head
The Texas Longhorns have won two straight against the Tennessee Volunteers, including a one-point victory at home last season. This will bethe third time the teams have squared off in Knoxville, Tn., with the Volunteers holding a 2-0 mark in games played in their home state.
Texas has a slight 4-3 lead in the all-time series, and a win in Saturday’s matchup would give it the longest win streak in the rivalry for either team. The college basketball lines for Saturday’s showdown are giving the edge to the host Volunteers to pick up the victory.
Texas vs Tennessee Game Information
- Game: Texas (17-3) vs Tennessee (17-3)
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena
- Day/Time: Saturday, Jan 28, 6 p.m. ET
- Texas vs Tennessee Live Stream: TBS
Texas vs Tennessee Betting Lines
Texas vs Tennessee Picks & Prediction
The Texas Longhorns have some veteran players in their lineup, but they’ll have to be ready for the onslaught that is the defense of the Tennessee Volunteers. This one should be close all the way, but we like Tennessee to pull away late for the victory.
When making your college basketball picks, take Tennessee to win and cover at home.
Texas is listed at +205 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Texas, you have a chance to win $205. Tennessee is -235, offering a chance to win $43 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Texas a 32.79% chance to win, with Tennessee at 70.15%.
Texas vs Tennessee Trends
Texas vs Tennessee Edge
Texas vs Tennessee Results
Texas vs Tennessee Game Summary
