Tennessee basketball vs. Tennessee Tech: Live stream, TV and radio info, line, predictions, odds for Vols’ Nov. 26 matchup
A week after splitting their two games against ranked opponents at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Connecticut, Tennessee basketball is back home for its first game after Thanksgiving. The Vols will face another lower-level in-state for.
Heading to Rocky Top are the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, who come in at .3-3 under third-year head coach John Pelphrey. This game comes five days after UT beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 89-72 and six days after they lost to the Villanova Wildcats 71-53.
This is the second straight year these two teams have faced off. Rick Barnes’ team enters this game 3-1, ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the Coaches Poll. Here is all the information you need for Tennessee basketball’s fifth matchup of the season.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Tennessee Volunteers
When: Saturday, Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena; Knoxville, Tenn.
TV: SEC Network+
Live stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Vol Network; 106.1 FM (WPTN, Cookeville, Tenn.)
Listen online: UTSports; The Eagle
Line according to WynnBET: Tennessee -23
Over/Under according to WynnBET: 141.5
UT has a history with Pelphrey. Last year, the Vols beat TTU 103-49. Before that, though, Pelphrey coached the Arkansas Razorbacks from 2007 to 2011. Usually, the Vols won, but Pelphrey’s Hogs eliminated them in the 2008 SEC Tournament semifinals, which likely ended up costing them a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Coming into this game, the Vols have battled some injuries throughout the year. John Fulkerson missed the beginning of the season to recover from a fractured thumb. Jonas Aidoo missed multiple weeks due to an illness.
Both are back now, but Josiah-Jordan James has a torn ligament in his finger. This leaves the program a bit short handed. After this game, the Vols will host the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles will host the Chattanooga Mocs that same day.
Prediction
Despite the injuries, it’s hard to see Barnes’ team struggling at all in this one. A long rest and the red-hot three-point shooting outside of that one game against Villanova should allow Tennessee basketball’s offense to carry them to victory, so take Tennessee -23 and the Over 141.5. The score will look something like this: Tennessee: 91 Tennessee Tech: 65.