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Tennessee basketball vs. Vanderbilt: Live stream, broadcast info, line, odds, prediction

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 8, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Colorado Buffaloes at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Colorado Buffaloes at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Coming off two straight road wins in SEC play and on a six-game SEC winning streak, Tennessee basketball is back at home. The Vols will be going for a season-sweep against their in-state rival, the team they began their SEC streak against.

Ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, Rick Barnes’ team welcomes the Vanderbilt Commodores to Rocky Top. UT most recently beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 72-63 in arguably the biggest win of their season Wednesday night.

Jerry Stackhouse’s ‘Dores, meanwhile, have won two straight and three of four. They are most recently coming off a 70-62 win at home over the Missouri Tigers. Here is all the information you need for Tennessee basketball’s matchup with Vandy.

13-10 (5-6). Thompson-Boling Arena. 17-6 (8-3). Knoxville, Tenn.. 537. Saturday, Feb. 12. 534. 6 p.m. ET

Broadcast information

Gambling odds according to WynnBET

  • Line: Tennessee -11
  • Over/Under: 133
  • Moneyline: Tennessee -700; Vanderbilt +500

In the last meeting between these two teams, the Vols won 68-60 in Nashville. Starting with that game, they have won six of seven, their only loss coming on the road to the Texas Longhorns. They still haven’t lost a game at home either.

However, it’s safe to say this Vanderbilt team is dramatically different. At the time, they were in a slide in which they had lost five of six, and that was part of a three-game losing streak. However, their only loss the past four games was at the Kentucky Wildcats, and it was actually a close game for a while.

Included in those wins are the LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs. What has helped is the return of Rodney Chatman. The Dayton Flyers graduate transfer guard missed five straight games in SEC play and came back for the UGA win, which sparked their recent run. He has scored double figures in all their victories since then.

Chatman has actually battled injuries all year, as he didn’t make his debut until Dec. 18 against the Austin Peay Governors. Combining Chatman with the productivity of Jordan Wright and Scotty Pippen Jr. has made this team dangerous. This team is 7-2 with all three on the court, including a 75-74 win at the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Simply put, Vanderbilt is incredibly dangerous, and Tennessee basketball has to take this game seriously. The Vols had a nice win Wednesday, but they still don’t have Olivier Nkamhoua, and with no proven stretch-four to replace him, they had to get 34 minutes or more from their three starting guards Wednesday. That’s not sustainable.

Prediction

It’s not clear whether or not the Vols can continue what they did Wednesday without Nkamhoua. A thinner roster and a short rest could make them tired for this game, and they will definitely get more tired as the year goes on. However, it’s not going to show up yet.

Next. Vol basketball's all-time depth chart. dark

At the moment, Tennessee basketball is in a rhythm, and they are dominant at home. As a result, take Tennessee -11 on the spread. Their offense is red hot enough to take the Over 133 as well. Vanderbilt may be better, but they’re no match for the Vols at UT. The score will look something like this: Tennessee 77 Vanderbilt 64.

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