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Tennessee basketball at Georgia Bulldogs: Vols preview, live stream, and prediction

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 6, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 76-65. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 6, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 76-65. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball travels to Athens to take on the Bulldogs. Here is the preview of the UT Volunteers and the USA Dawgs.

Tennessee basketball (19-6, 9-4 SEC) is looking for its 20th win of the season. The 70-67 win against the Gamecocks put the Vols back on the winning track.

South Carolina was a game Tennessee desperately need to win after a 28-point loss to Alabama. A 28-point loss! Shocking to say the least.

If you know anything about college basketball, you know that sometimes the best team doesn’t always win. Tennessee basketball was riding a six-game winning streak until the Tide stomped all over the Vols last Saturday. Winning streaks do have to come to an end at some point, right? Look at Purdue; they had a 19-game winning streak until Ohio State beat them which in turn has caused the Boilermakers to drop their last three games.

*BRACKET UPDATE* The loss to Alabama hasn’t hurt the Vols just yet. It was 28 points but if the Tide can continue to win, the better it can look for Tennessee. In the latest bracketology, from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Tennessee is the fourth seed in the East region playing Buffalo. Jerry Palm, from CBS, has the exact same seed and opponent for the Vols. Tennessee would have to travel to Boise, Idaho. Makes total sense, right?

As for the Bulldogs, (14-11, 5-8 SEC) they are coming off a huge 72-69 overtime win against Florida in Gainesville. With the win, Georgia swept the season series against the Gators, which marks the first time since the 1996-97 season. I bet you can guess who made the big bucket to send the game into overtime. Yeah, Yante Maten. The Vols will have their hand full with the SEC’s leading scorer.

Before we preview both teams and give our prediction, here is the information you need for Saturday’s game.

No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers at Georgia Bulldogs
When: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m. E.T.
Where: Stegeman Coliseum; Athens, Ga.
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Line: Tennessee -2.5
Over/Under: 130

VIEW OF THE VOLS

Record: 19-6, 9-4 SEC

Last 5 Games: 4-1

Last 10 Games: 8-2

I can’t go without mentioning team leader, Grant Williams. He had a game-high 22 points against South Carolina and was clutch in the latter stages of the game when it looked like Tennessee was going to hand the win to the Gamecocks. He added five rebounds and shot an almost perfect 8-9 from the free throw line.

One thing we have been saying for a while is the guard play has to be more consistent. Truthfully, Tennessee has a legit shot to play in the final four, and yet they have an equally fair chance of being bounced in the first weekend. Yeah, any team can but its because the guards can make or break you.

In the last game, Jordan Bowden had 14 points and played an aggressive game, which was key to a Vols victory. He took ten 3-point shots and made a game-high four of them. Like my fellow contributor mentioned in his keys to victory, guard play must improve to build a successful run at an SEC and National Championship.

VIEW OF THE DAWGS

Record: 14-11, 5-8 SEC

Last 5 Games: 2-3

Last 10 Games: 3-7

Let me save you some time and merely say the words, Yante Maten. Seriously, that’s all I could say about Georgia, and it would be enough. The kid is unbelievable.

The senior forward has had himself an excellent career in Athens. Though, this year he has taken his game to another level. Leading the SEC in scoring with 19.5 points a game. All that is great, but he’s the only Bulldog scoring in double figures. And, this year has shown he can’t do it alone.

Much like Grant Williams, Maten can score, and he is a hard guard for any defensive player. Only once this season has he not scored in double digits, and that was against Missouri, go figure.

Maten is coming off a 23-point game against the Gators in which he hit a huge 3-point shot to send the game in overtime where the Bulldogs were able to win.

WATER-COOLER CHAT

Tennessee basketball is looking to win 20 games in the regular season for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

The Vols 12-1 this season when Jordan Bowden scores 10 points or more.

They are is 8-1 this season when James Daniel III has four assists or more.

PREDICTION

During the six-game winning streak that Tennessee put together, the four-game stretch of Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida was always a worry.

Do I think Tennessee should win this game? Yes, I do. Could I see Tennessee losing this game? Yes, I do.

What win means more to the Vols? Georgia or Florida? I think Florida and that is one of the reasons I could see the Vols taking the Bulldogs lightly. That’s if they were able to beat Alabama and still on their winning streak. I think that loss woke them up, but we will find out Saturday night.

This game will be just as close as the South Carolina game was. I’m taking the Vols, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bulldogs kept their momentum going with a win.

Tennessee beats Georgia 72-66.

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