Kentucky vs Tennessee Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s College Basketball Game

Two bitter rivals face off on Saturday when the Kentucky Wildcats head to Knoxville for an SEC clash with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Both teams sit at 2-2 in SEC play, and both feature strong defensive units. A win would be big for the resume of both teams, in addition to providing bragging rights.

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My Kentucky vs. Tennessee predictions and free college basketball picks explain why those defenses, combined with questionable offenses, should keep the score low on Saturday, January 17.

Kentucky vs Tennessee prediction

Kentucky vs Tennessee best bet: Under 146.5 (-110)

The Kentucky Wildcats have defended well this season. But the emphasis in building a strong defensive team in the offseason has led to struggles at the offensive end.

And with Jaland Lowe having season-ending surgery, this is a Kentucky offense that has no true point guard presence. That’s shown up in SEC play, where the Wildcats rank in the 100s in offensive efficiency.

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There has also been a marked drop in the pace of play. Kentucky now ranks 156th in adjusted tempo, something that will suit the Tennessee Volunteers just fine.

That’s because they play even slower. The Vols sit at just 67 possessions per game, partly because they tend to extend them. Tennessee leads the nation in offensive rebounding rate, getting second opportunities at a clip of nearly 44%.

The Vols also rank among the worst teams in the nation at coughing up the ball, which has led to lower scores. But they make up for it at the other end with a Top 15 defense in adjusted efficiency.

Tennessee’s biggest weakness on defense is defending the arc, but this is not a Kentucky team built to take advantage of that. The Wildcats make just 34.3% of their outside shots and have only a couple of real threats from long range.

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On the flip side, the Vols don’t take or make many themselves. In fact, through four SEC games, Tennessee has yet to make more than six treys and have made just 25.4% of attempts.

Throw in the…

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Publish date : 2026-01-17 14:40:00

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