Tennessee basketball vs. USC Upstate: Live stream, TV and radio info, line, predictions, odds for Dec. 14 matchup
For the second straight game, Tennessee basketball hosts a team from the Carolinas nicknamed the Spartans. Coming off a 76-36 win over the UNC Greensboro Spartans Saturday, the Vols will host the University of South Carolina Upstate Spartans Tuesday.
Rick Barnes’ team comes into this game with a 7-2 record and ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and the Coaches’ Poll. That was a drop of five and four spots respectively after their overtime loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Madison Square Garden last week.
Led by fourth-year head coach Dave Dickerson, USC Upstate comes in on a four-game losing streak and with a 2-7 record overall. They most recently lost 79-53 to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on the road. Here is all the information you need for Tennessee basketball’s matchup.
USC Upstate Spartans at Tennessee Volunteers
When: Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena; Knoxville, Tenn.
TV: SEC Network+
Live stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Vol Network
Listen online: UTSports
Line according to WynnBET: Tennessee -35.5
Over/Under according to WynnBET: 137.5
Coming off a 5-18 record last year, USC Upstate is still searching for its first winning season under Dickerson. The school, which competes in the Big South, is based on Valley Falls, S.C., which is in Spartanburg County. This is the second straight season UT and USC Upstate are facing off.
Last December, the Vols beat the Spartans 80-60. Before that, the two last met in 2013 for Rocky Top’s home opener, in Cuonzo Martin’s final season, which was the first ever meeting between the two programs and UT won 74-65.
After this game, the Vols will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to take on the Memphis Tigers at Bridgestone Arena Saturday. USC Upstate, meanwhile, will return home to face the Brevard College Tornados Saturday.
Prediction
A lot of what happens with Tennessee basketball depends on how well they shoot the ball. It’ll be irrelevant here. USC Upstate is horrible on the glass, so the Vols should be unstoppable in the paint, and their defense should dominate.
With not as much of a focus on the three, the Vols won’t score enough to cover, so take USC Upstate +35.5 and the Under 137.5. They’ll still dominate easily, but that line is too big. The score will look something like this: Tennessee: 81 USC Upstate: 48.