Florida vs Tennessee Odds, Pick
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | +360 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | -500 |
Editor's Note: Tuesday's game between Florida and Tennessee will be moved to 5 p.m. ET due to inclement weather.
No. 6 Tennessee and Florida will renew a longtime rivalry on the hardwood Tuesday night to tip off the midweek slate in the SEC.
The Volunteers return home with a 12-4 overall record and 2-1 mark in the SEC after playing Georgia and Mississippi State on the road. Meanwhile, the Gators picked up their first league win of the season over the weekend in a rout over Arkansas to come into this game with 11 victories.
This is a big spot for either team to pick up a Quad 1 win on their resume.
Florida Gators
After starting 0-2 in SEC play, the Gators switched gears in their 22-point victory over the Razorbacks.
The big story in the win was the play of Riley Kugel. The sophomore guard dropped 20 points on 57% shooting with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Since the NIT Season Tip-Off in November, Kugel had combined for just 47 points over the next seven games. That came after he finished with over 20 points in both games against Baylor and Wake Forest in that tournament.
If Kugel can continue to produce, it adds another dynamic scorer to a backcourt with Walter Clayton Jr. (15.9 PPG) and Zyon Pullin (15.2 PPG). This team will be pushing for a bid to the Big Dance.
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Tennessee Volunteers
Coach Rick Barnes brought back numerous key players from last season’s Sweet 16 team, but it has been one of the newcomers stealing the spotlight.
Guard Dalton Knecht has been the Volunteers' best scorer since joining the program in the offseason, leading Tennessee at 17.2 PPG. The Northern Colorado transfer was extremely impressive last week, starting off the road trip with 28 points against a stout Mississippi State defense before following that up with 36 points in the win at Georgia, where he also shot 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Coming into last weekend, Knecht was the only Power Five player in the country to score 24-plus points on the road three times this season.
Florida vs. Tennessee
Betting Pick & Prediction
One theme we have seen this year from the Volunteers is they are playing with much more tempo than in previous seasons under Barnes. I believe their offense will have great success in this spot too. My best bet is for Tennessee to fly over the team total of 84.5, which I would bet to 86.5.
Outside of Tennessee’s offensive performances, you have to look at how Florida has done defensively against the top teams on its schedule. The Gators allowed 95 points to Baylor, 82 to Wake Forest, 103 to Ole Miss and 81 to Michigan.
The difference here is the Volunteers play at a faster tempo than all of those squads, according to KenPom. Barnes’ squad ranks 80th in tempo and 55th in field goal attempts per game. One team that is comparable in offensive production and pace of play is Kentucky, which the Gators allowed 87 points to at home. I just don’t expect the defense to improve on the road in this spot.
Meanwhile, Florida is inside the top 15 in both tempo and field goal attempts per contest. There should be plenty of possessions for both squads.
I like Tennessee to put up a big number at home against an SEC rival.
Pick: Tennessee Team Total Over 84.5 (Play to 86.5)
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