The SEC is still wide open at the top of the standings. Currently, Auburn is in first place but the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers can inch a little bit closer to that top spot in the standings with a win today.
Kentucky is undefeated at home, but the Wildcats will have to play on the road against Tennessee tonight. On the road, the Wildcats are just 5-3. However, currently, Kentucky is on a six-game winning streak and looks like a powerhouse in the SEC.
Can Tennessee find a way to defeat Kentucky, at home, and increase its four-game winning streak to five? Here are our college basketball picks and predictions for the SEC matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers.
Kentucky vs Tennessee odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Tennessee opened as a 1.5-point favorite but has now been bet down to as much as +1.5 at multiple outlets. The total has increased at most books from 139.5 at open to 140.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Kentucky vs Tennessee predictions
Predictions made on 2/15/2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Kentucky vs Tennessee game info
• Location: Thompson Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN
• Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
• Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Kentucky at Tennessee betting preview
Injuries
Kentucky: TyTy Washington G (Questionable), Jacob Toppin (Questionable), CJ Frederick G (Out).
Tennessee: Olivier Nkamhoua F (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Tennessee is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games following an ATS loss. Find more NCAA betting trends for Kentucky vs. Tennessee.
Kentucky vs Tennessee picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
This is always an intense matchup between Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky already routed Tennessee earlier this year, winning 107-79.
I don’t expect that to happen again.
Kentucky shot 61% from deep and 71% from inside the arc in that game, while making 20 of 21 foul shots. It will be hard to duplicate a shooting performance like that on the road in Knoxville.
That said, Kentucky is still one of the best offenses in the nation. The Wildcats are shooting an effective field goal percentage of 54.2% while earning 37.6% offensive rebounds on the season.
From deep, the Wildcats have nailed 35.6% of shots and from inside, it’s more of the same, hitting 54.6%. Kentucky only turns the ball over 16.8% of the time but will rarely find the foul line this season.
Protecting the ball will be key against Tennessee. The Volunteers are averaging nearly one turnover every four possessions this season. The Vols have also been able to limit 3-point shooting to 33.1 % and inside shooting to 47.7%.
On the other hand, Tennessee is shooting a 51% effective field goal percentage while also earning a solid amount of offensive rebounds at 33.3%. Tennessee won’t be as dominant as Kentucky on the glass, but Tennessee can work the glass as well and limit Kentucky from reaching their ridiculously high averages.
Tennessee has hit 34.5% from deep and 50.4% from inside the arc on the season. But just like Kentucky, it’s ultimately hard to get to the foul line consistently for Tennessee.
Kentucky has held opponents to a 45.4% effective field goal percentage while limiting offensive rebounds to 23.4%. Teams have only hit 29% from deep and 46.4% from inside the arc.
On paper, Kentucky looks like the better team. But we know how hard winning in Knoxville ultimately is. Tennessee is currently 13-0 at home and is always much more prepared in their own building.
Tennessee opened as a favorite for a reason. If you’re able to get the Vols as an underdog, take your chance.
Prediction: Tennessee +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
When these two teams played earlier this year, we saw about 200 points in that game. I don’t think we’ll see 200 a gain tonight, but I do think we'll see enough to send this game Over once again.
Kentucky should be able to earn second-chance buckets and Tennessee, despite being ranked as a top-10 defense, really couldn’t stop Kentucky at all on the offensive end.
If the Vols want to win this game, they’ll need to keep up offensively. So I like the Over in this one.
Prediction: Over 139.5 (-110)
Best bet
No team has beaten Tennessee in Knoxville. But now Kentucky is currently a favorite after opening as an underdog and I just don’t agree with the line movement.
Tennessee should still be the favorite in this game. It’s hard to win road games in the SEC and the reality is, Kentucky is just 5-3 on the road this season. The Wildcats haven’t been elite away from home and haven’t had all that much experience in these types of environments.
Let’s ride Tennessee as an underdog.
Pick: Tennessee +1.5 (-110)
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